,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cfhh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ag1 #bjbb ,mr4 ,warnock 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,stabenow1 and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,director of the ,center for ,mental ,health ,services of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 to award grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements to facilitate the funding of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,access to ,tele-,behavioral ,health ,services ,act4 #b4 ,awards for community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary71 acting through the ,director of the ,center for ,mental ,health ,services of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 shall establish a program 7in this ,act referred to as the ,program7 to facilitate the funding of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs1 including services provided virtually4 7b7 ,award authority ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall award grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements in accordance with this section4 7c7 ,eligible recipients ,the ,secretary may make an award under the ,program to an eligible recipient determined by the ,secretary to be authorized and capable of carrying out a project described in subsection 7d74 7d7 ,use of funds ,funds awarded under the ,program may be used to-- 7#a7 identify and coordinate care between programs that provide access to community-based mental health and substance use disorder services for juveniles and assist in the coordination of such services2 7#b7 identify and coordinate care between programs that provide access to community-based mental health and substance use disorder services for adults and assist in the coordination of such services2 7#c7 obtain technology required to provide community-based mental health and substance use disorder services virtually1 through audio or video telehealth services2 7#d7 compensate a health care provider or a peer specialist for the provision of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services1 including services provided virtually2 7#e7 provide education assistance to an individual seeking certification as a peer specialist2 7#f7 provide for workforce development1 recruitment1 and retention activities1 to train1 recruit1 and retain peer specialists2 7#g7 support the provision of peer specialist-facilitated mental health and substance use disorder support services on a virtual platform by an entity that1 prior to the award1 was providing such services in-person2 or 7#h7 expand or improve virtual1 peer specialist-facilitated mental health and substance use disorder support services carried out by the entity prior to the date of enactment of this ,act4 7e7 ,applications ,to be eligible for an award under the ,program1 an eligible recipient shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7f7 ,guidance ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance on the requirements an eligible recipient shall take to provide community-based mental health and substance use disorder services4 7g7 ,supplement not supplant ,federal funds awarded to an eligible recipient pursuant to the ,program shall be used to supplement1 but not supplant1 any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds available to such eligible recipient4 7h7 ,report 7#a7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which funds are distributed under the ,program1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,program that includes-- 7,a7 the number of awards made under the ,program2 7,b7 the physical location of each awardee selected under the ,program2 7,c7 the amount requested and amount awarded for each award under the ,program2 and 7,d7 whether funds were used during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7#b7 ,publication requirement ,on the date on which a report is submitted under paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b71 the ,secretary shall publish such report on the website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,program #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,covid-#ai public health emergency ,the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #bg1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai4 7#b7 ,eligible recipient ,the term eligible recipient means-- 7,a7 a department of health or a department of public health1 in coordination with a ,state2 7,b7 a nonprofit health program that primarily serves individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders2 7,c7 community-based nonprofit entity1 that is a consumer-controlled and is certified in accordance with applicable ,state law to deliver peer specialist support services at a ,state or local level2 7,d7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja771 providing service learning and civic-engagement courses for peer specialist training2 7,e7 a ,state or local law enforcement agency or other ,state first responder agency2 or 7,f7 an ,indian ,tribe or ,tribal organization4 7#c7 ,health care provider ,the term health care provider means a certified provider who provides mental health and substance use disorder services4 7#d7 ,indian ,tribe2 ,tribal organization ,the terms ,indian ,tribe and ,tribal organization have the meanings given the terms ,indian tribe and tribal organization in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#e7 ,peer specialist ,the term peer specialist includes-- 7,a7 a certified peer specialist2 7,b7 a peer recovery specialist2 and 7,c7 a recovery coach4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 or any commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 or an ,indian ,tribe4