,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dihi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,casey 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,ms4 ,baldwin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of #baa services for information and referral for mental health emergencies1 homelessness needs1 other human services needs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,human-,services ,emergency ,logistic ,program ,act of #bjbj or the ,,help ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are as follows3 7#a7 ,to strengthen the existing #baa services in ,states throughout the ,nation4 7#b7 ,to increase the availability1 reliability1 and responsiveness of #baa information and referral across the country1 #bd hours a day1 #cfe days a year4 7#c7 ,to reduce the use of #iaa services for circumstances not related to law enforcement1 fire1 or medical emergencies4 7#d7 ,to more efficiently connect individuals with needed human services4 7#e7 ,to reduce the arrests1 incarcerations1 and law enforcement violence that occur from inappropriate #iaa emergency referrals4 #c4 ,allotments to strengthen nationwide accessibility and coordination of #baa service for information and referral for human services 7a7 ,in general ,out of amounts appropriated under section #d7;a7 that remain after application of section #d7;b71 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary71 acting through the #baa ,national ,board1 shall make an allotment to each ,state1 in accordance with the formula developed under subsection 7b71 to carry out a program for the purposes of-- 7#a7 ensuring #baa services are accessible to all individuals in each ,state2 and 7#b7 strengthening the reliability1 accessibility1 and responsiveness of methods of communication through the #baa service1 in order to provide information and referrals with respect to human services1 including mental health emergency resources1 homelessness resources1 suicide prevention resources1 domestic violence resources1 resources to identify and address child and elder abuse and exploitation1 caregiver and child care resources1 and other human service needs4 7b7 ,allotments to ,states 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of making allotments under this section1 the ,secretary shall develop a formula for determining the allotment amounts for each ,state4 ,such formula shall be based on population1 population density1 poverty rate1 and other evidence-based predictive data related to the needs of the ,state for1 and access to1 human services4 ,allotments made under this section1 and the services provided through such allotments1 shall not supplant funding otherwise made available to the ,state for such purposes1 or services otherwise provided by the ,state for such purposes4 7#b7 ,non-,federal contributions ,a ,state may not be eligible for an allotment under this section unless the ,state ensures that at least #be percent of the resources of the program funded by the ,state allotment will be derived from non-,federal sources1 which may include in-kind contributions of goods or services4 7#c7 ,requirement regarding ,state allotment amounts ,of the amounts allotted to a ,state under this section1 not more than #ae percent shall be allocated for evaluation1 training1 and technical assistance1 and for management and administration of subgrants awarded under this section4 7#d7 ,administrative costs ,from the allotment made to a ,state under this subsection1 the ,state #baa ,collaborative may retain the greater of #a_/b of #a percent of such allotment or #ej1jjj1 for administrative costs4 7c7 #baa ,national ,board 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a #baa ,national ,board for purposes of-- 7,a7 managing and allocating funds under this section1 including making allotments to ,states2 7,b7 reviewing ,state plans for implementing and maintaining #baa systems2 and 7,c7 evaluating ,state #baa systems4 7#b7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,the #baa ,national ,board shall be comprised of not fewer than #ae members selected by the ,secretary in accordance with subparagraph 7,b71 of which #g shall be permanent members1 and #h shall serve #c-year1 rotating terms4 7,b7 ,members 7i7 ,permanent members ,the #g permanent members shall be comprised of one representative from each of-- 7,i7 the ,alliance of ,information and ,referral ,systems2 7,,ii7 ,united ,way ,worldwide2 7,,iii7 the ,national ,council on ,independent ,living2 7,,iv7 the ,national ,association of ,area ,agencies on ,aging2 7,v7 the ,bazelon ,center for ,mental ,health ,law2 7,,vi7 the ,leadership ,conference on ,civil and ,human ,rights2 and 7,,vii7 the ,national ,alliance to ,end ,homelessness4 7ii7 ,rotating members ,the #h rotating members shall be selected by the ,secretary1 with input from stakeholders and advocates1 and shall include-- 7,i7 #b representatives of faith-based organizations dedicated to providing human services2 7,,ii7 #a representative of an organization dedicated to ensuring racial and ethnic equity2 7,,iii7 #a representative of a disability organization operated by a majority of people with disabilities2 7,,iv7 #a representative of an organization representing older adults2 7,v7 #a representative of an organization representing ,tribal and ,native peoples2 7,,vi7 #a representative of an organization representing ,,lgbtq populations2 and 7,,vii7 #a representative of a secular organization dedicated to providing human services4 7iii7 ,additional rotating members ,in addition to the members appointed under clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 the ,secretary may appoint to the #baa ,national ,board up to #d additional rotating members to represent specific populations or issues4 ,each such member shall serve a #c-year term4 7iv7 ,ex officio members ,ex officio members of the #baa ,national ,board shall include #a representative from each of-- 7,i7 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 7,,ii7 the ,department of ,education2 7,,iii7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7,,iv7 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development2 and 7,v7 the ,department of ,commerce4 7#c7 ,fiscal agent ,the ,office of the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall be the fiscal agent of the #baa ,national ,board4 7#d7 ,chair and ,vice ,chair 7,a7 ,chair selection ,the ,chair of the #baa ,national ,board shall be selected by the #baa ,national ,board members1 from among the permanent members described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77i71 and shall serve a #e-year term4 7,b7 ,vice chair selection ,the ,vice ,chair shall be selected by the #baa ,national ,board members1 from among the rotating members described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77ii71 and shall serve a #c-year term4 7d7 ,state oversight entities 7#a7 #baa ,collaboratives 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state seeking an allotment under this section1 not later than #c months after receiving an allotment1 shall appoint a lead entity 7referred to in this section as a #baa ,collaborative7 for purposes of meeting the requirements of this subsection4 7,b7 #baa ,collaborative ,a ,state lead entity shall be treated as the ,state #baa ,collaborative under this subsection if the entity-- 7i7 7,i7 exists for such purpose-- 7aa7 under ,state law2 or 7bb7 by order of the ,state public utility commission2 and 7,,ii7 collaborates1 to the extent practicable1 with the entities listed in clause 7ii72 or 7ii7 is a collaborative entity established by the ,state for such purpose from among representatives of-- 7,i7 an informal1 existing #baa statewide collaborative in the ,state2 7,,ii7 ,state agencies2 7,,iii7 community-based organizations1 including-- 7aa7 organizations representing older adults2 7bb7 organizations representing people with disabilities2 7cc7 where appropriate1 organizations representing ,native peoples and ,tribal nations2 7dd7 organizations representing people with mental health disabilities2 and 7ee7 organizations led by ,black people1 indigenous people1 or people of color working to end racism2 7,,iv7 faith-based organizations dedicated to providing human services2 7,v7 nonprofit organizations providing human services2 7,,vi7 comprehensive and specialized information and referral providers1 including area agencies on aging1 aging and disability resource centers1 and #baa call centers2 7,,vii7 ,state and regional foundations2 and 7,,viii7 businesses headquartered in1 or with significant presence in1 the ,state4 7#b7 #baa ,state ,oversight ,council 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,state receiving an allotment under this section shall establish a #baa ,state ,oversight ,council 7referred to in this section as a ,council7 to provide guidance and oversight of the #baa system to the ,state #baa ,collaborative4 7,b7 ,members 7i7 ,in general ,each ,council shall be comprised of not more than #be stakeholders and service providers appointed by the governor of the ,state for staggered #c-year terms1 including-- 7,i7 at least #c representatives of human service providers2 7,,ii7 at least #b adults over the age of #fj2 7,,iii7 at least #c people with disabilities2 7,,iv7 at least #c additional people with mental health disabilities2 7,v7 at least #a individual with a child under #ah years of age2 7,,vi7 at least #a individual caring for an older adult2 7,,vii7 at least #a individual providing support for a relative with a disability2 7,,viii7 at least #c individuals who are members of a family that receives means tested ,federal benefits1 such as temporary assistance for needy families under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq471 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 or the supplemental security income program established under title ,,xvi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq472 and 7,,ix7 at least #a business representative4 7ii7 ,conflicts of interest ,no ,council member may be an employee of an entity that receives a subgrant from the ,state #baa ,collaborative4 7iii7 ,chair and ,vice ,chair ,with respect to each ,council1 the ,council shall select from among its members a ,chair1 who shall be a recipient of human services1 and a ,vice ,chair1 who shall be a provider of human services or a business representative4 7,c7 ,duties ,each ,council shall be responsible for-- 7i7 reviewing the annual ,state #baa application to the #baa ,national ,board2 7ii7 reviewing the annual #baa ,collaborative budget2 7iii7 identifying topics for1 and ensuring an evaluation of1 the ,state #baa service consistent with subsection 7h77#b72 7iv7 monitoring the ,state #baa service to ensure that such #baa service is racially equitable2 and 7v7 making recommendations to increase the awareness and effectiveness of #baa services in all parts of the ,state and all communities4 7e7 ,application ,the #baa ,collaborative of a ,state1 on behalf of each ,state seeking an allocation under this section1 acting under the direction of the ,state governor1 shall submit an annual application to the #baa ,national ,board for such an allocation1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including the following3 7#a7 ,a description of how the #baa ,collaborative will-- 7,a7 ensure that every resident of the ,state with phone or internet service can connect to the #baa service at no charge2 and 7,b7 make available1 throughout the ,state1 #baa service information and referral with respect to human services1 including information on the manner in which the #baa ,collaborative will develop1 sustain1 and evaluate the #baa service program4 7#b7 ,information on the sources of funding and other resources for the ,state #baa service for purposes of meeting the requirements under subsection 7b77#b74 7#c7 ,information describing how the #baa ,collaborative will provide to all individuals in the ,state1 to the extent practicable1 a statewide database available via the internet1 that will allow such individuals to search for programs or services that are available from human services programs in the ,state4 7#d7 ,assurances that all activities and information provided by the #baa service and all entities receiving subgrants pursuant to this section will be accessible according to the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d71 and part #aaid of title #cf1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulations74 7#e7 ,any additional information the ,secretary may require4 7f7 ,subgrants 7#a7 ,authority ,for purposes of carrying out a program in a ,state1 the ,state #baa ,collaborative may make subgrants to such entities as the ,collaborative determines appropriate1 which may include subgrants to provide funds-- 7,a7 for the provision of #baa service2 7,b7 for the operation and maintenance of #baa call centers2 7,c7 for the collection and display of information in the statewide database2 7,d7 for increasing public awareness of #baa service in the ,state2 7,e7 for coordination of the ,state's #baa service1 including the collection1 accessibility1 and display of information through a national data platform2 7,f7 to conduct statewide and regional planning2 7,g7 for start-up costs of extending #baa service to unserved areas1 including costs of software and hardware upgrades and telecommunications and internet costs2 7,h7 to ensure that #baa service is accessible1 consistent with the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d71 and part #aaid of title #cf1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulations72 7,i7 for staffing2 7,j7 for training2 7,k7 for activities related to accreditation2 7,l7 for the evaluation of ,state #baa activities2 7,m7 for internet hosting and site development and maintenance for a statewide database2 7,n7 for cloud-based data and messaging capacity2 7,o7 to integrate or consolidate #baa services within the ,state2 7,p7 to integrate or share resources and service-level data with national platforms hosted by the #baa ,national ,board2 7,q7 to prepare and submit ,state and national reporting requirements and other activities approved by the #baa ,state ,oversight ,council2 or 7,r7 to carry out other activities approved by the #baa ,national ,board4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in awarding a subgrant under this subsection1 a lead entity shall consider-- 7,a7 the ability of the entity seeking the subgrant to carry out activities or provide services consistent with this ,act2 7,b7 the extent to which the award of the subgrant will facilitate equitable geographic distribution of subgrants under this section to ensure that rural communities have access to #baa service2 and 7,c7 the extent to which the recipient of the subgrant will establish and maintain cooperative relationships with specialized information and referral centers1 including ,child ,care ,resource and ,referral ,agencies1 crisis centers1 referral agencies for aging or disability services1 #iaa call centers1 and #caa call centers1 if applicable4 7g7 ,use of ,state allotment and subgrant amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,amounts awarded as ,state allotments or subgrants under this section shall be used solely-- 7,a7 to make available #baa service to all individuals in a ,state via voice1 short message service or other messaging1 internet1 or other telecommunication methods2 or 7,b7 for community information and referral with respect to human services1 among individuals1 families1 and agencies seeking such services and the providers of such services4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in making #baa service available1 the recipient of a ,state allotment or subgrant shall1 to the maximum extent practicable-- 7,a7 abide by the ,key ,standards for #baa ,centers as specified in the ,standards and ,quality ,indicators for ,professional ,information and ,referral published by the ,alliance of ,information and ,referral ,systems2 and 7,b7 collaborate with public and private human services organizations and existing national1 regional1 and local information and referral systems to provide an exhaustive and comprehensive database of services from which to provide information or referrals to individuals using the #baa service4 7#c7 ,use of subgrant funds ,amounts awarded through a subgrant under subsection 7f7 may be used by the subgrant recipient for the purposes described in subsection 7f77#a74 7h7 ,reports and evaluations 7#a7 ,annual reports ,the ,state #baa collaborative of each ,state receiving an allotment under this section shall submit to the #baa ,national ,board1 not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year in which such allotment is made1 a report on the program funded by the ,state allotment4 ,each report shall-- 7,a7 describe the activities or services funded by the ,state allotment2 7,b7 assess the effectiveness of such activities and services in making available1 to all residents of the ,state with service1 #baa service for information and referrals with respect to human services in accordance with the provisions of this section2 and 7,c7 assess the effectiveness of collaboration with human services resource and referral entities and service providers4 7#b7 ,evaluation ,each ,state #baa ,collaborative shall award a contract to an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the ,state #baa system biennially4 ,the evaluation shall address-- 7,a7 the effectiveness of the ,state #baa service at connecting residents to needed human services2 7,b7 the effectiveness of collaborations among #baa partners2 7,c7 the effects of the ,state #baa service on #iaa law enforcement1 fire1 and medical emergency services2 7,d7 the comprehensiveness of the information in the ,state #baa database2 7,e7 public awareness of the ,state #baa service2 7,f7 user satisfaction with the ,state #baa service2 and 7,g7 other topics identified by the #baa ,state ,oversight ,councils4 7i7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 #baa service ,the term #baa service means providing residents with information and referrals1 via voice telephone1 text telephone1 short message service1 text1 internet phone1 or other telecommunication methods1 with respect to health and human services and other provider agencies4 7#b7 ,human services ,the term human services means services that-- 7,a7 assist individuals in becoming more self-sufficient1 in preventing dependency1 and in strengthening family relationships2 7,b7 address social determinants of health2 7,c7 support personal and social development2 or 7,d7 help ensure the health and well-being of individuals1 families1 and communities4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state means the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #d4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #cej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba and #bjbb and #cjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4 7b7 ,reservation ,of the amount appropriated under this section for a fiscal year1 the #baa ,national ,board may reserve #a_/b of #a percent for administrative and national coordinating activities4 7c7 ,availability ,amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended4