,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #fdae  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,novemb] #ad1         
#bjbc,ms4 ,tokuda 7= h]self1 ,mr4       
,fitzpatrick1 ,ms4 ,bal9t1 ,mr4         
,la,malfa1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mrs4 ,watson   
,coleman1 ,mr4 ,neguse1 ,ms4 ,norton1   
,ms4 ,sal9as1 & ,mrs4 ,torres (         
,cali=nia7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 
0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &    
,comm]ce1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee  
on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure1 = a
 p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by !   
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
increase access to m5tal heal?1 sub/ance
 use1 & c\nsel+ s]vices = fir/          
respond]s1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,crisis 
,assi/ance & ,res\rces 9 ,em]g5cies =   
,fir/ ,respond]s ,act or ! ,,c>e = ,fir/
 ,respond]s ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress 
f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,accord+ to !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security1 !re are  

an e/imat$ #d4f million p s]v+ z c>e] & 
volunte] pr(essionals 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
)9 #e prim>y response discipl9es3 law   
en=cem5t1 fire & rescue s]vices1 em]g5cy
 managem5t1 & public works4  7#b7 ,fir/ 
respond]s are usually ! fir/ on ! sc5e  
to face *all5g+1 dang]\s1 & dra9+       
situations4  7#c7 ,fir/ respond]s are   
also ! fir/ to rea* out to disa/]       
survivors & provide emotional & physical
 support to !m4 ,^! duties1 al?\gh      
ess5tial to ! entire community1 are     
/r5u\s to fir/ respond]s & ) "t put !m  
at an increas$ risk ( exp]i5c+ "s m5tal 
heal? & sub/ance use issues &           
conditions4  7#d7 ,! comb9ation (       
exposure to trauma1 dem&+ s*$ules1 &    
physically *all5g+ roles puts fir/      
respond]s at an increas$ risk = m5tal   
heal? issues su* z depression1          
po/-traumatic dress disord]1 /ress1 &   
suicidal behaviors4  7#e7 ,accord+ to a 
#bjah /udy by ! ,sub/ance ,abuse &      
,m5tal ,heal? ,s]vices ,adm9i/ration1   
#cj p]c5t ( fir/ respond]s develop      

behavioral heal? conditions includ+     
depression & po/-traumatic /ress        
disord]1 z comp>$ ) #bj p]c5t 9 ! g5]al 
population4  7#f7 ,! ,sub/ance ,abuse & 
,m5tal ,heal? ,s]vices ,adm9i/ration    
f9ds t an e/imat$ betwe5 #abe & #cjj    
police (fic]s die by suicide annually4  
7#g7 ,data f ! ,national ,viol5t ,dea?  
,report+ ,sy/em indicates t fir/        
respond]s made up #a p]c5t ( all        
suicides f #bjae to #bjag4 ,:5 brok5 d[n
 by response discipl9e1 ^! fir/ respond]
 suicides occurr$ among law en=cem5t    
(fic]s 7#eh p]c5t71 firefight]s 7#ba    
p]c5t71 em]g5cy m$ical s]vices provid]s 
7#ah p]c5t7 & public safety             
telecommunicators 7#b p]c5t74  7#h7     
,accord+ to ! ,firefight] ,behavioral   
,heal? ,alliance1 m firefight]s di$ (   
suicide ?an 9 ! l9e ( duty betwe5 #bjad 
& #bjbj1 & ne>ly #eh p]c5t ( firefight]s
 7 expos$ to traumatic ev5ts l mass     
%oot+s1 viol5ce c> cra%es1 or *ild      
abuse4  7#i7 ,= _m fir/ respond]s1 x c  
be difficult to transition f be+ a      

provid] to cli5t or pati5t is n an easy 
"o s :5 a fir/ respond] f9ally seeks    
treatm5t1 x c be deva/at+ to enc\nt] an 
ill-prep>$ provid] & may result 9       
reluctance to seek fur!r help4  7#aj7   
,_m fir/ respond]s may consid] /ress to 
be "p ( ! job & feel t !y _c or %\ld n  
talk ab\t traumatic ev5ts & o!r         
occupational /ressors4 ,p]ceiv$ /igma   
ar\nd m5tal heal? problems or conc]ns   
ov] impact on employm5t1 includ+ b n    
limit$ to be+ label$ z unfit = duty1 may
 lead fir/ respond]s to n report trauma1
 m5tal heal? issues1 or suicidal ?\ghts4
  7#aa7 ,!re are limit$ res\rces        
available to specifically address !     
m5tal heal? ne$s ( fir/ respond]s4 ,(t51
 fir/ respond]s are direct$ to g5]al    
m5tal heal? practition]s :o may n und]/&
 ! unique dem&s fac$ by fir/ respond]s  
or ! cultures 9 :i* !y op]ate4 ,:ile ^! 
s]vices may meet ! ne$s ( _m pati5ts1   
g5]al practition]s may n und]/& :at fir/
 respond]s exp]i5ce on ! job or be able 
to relate to !m 9 a culturally compet5t 

mann]4  7#ab7 ,provid+ fir/ respond]s ) 
m5tal heal? & sub/ance use res\rces &   
s]vices t are readily available &       
occupationally relevant c help !m deal )
 excess /ress1 atta9 timely & cl9ically 
appropriate c>e1 & feel bett] prep>$ to 
respond to an em]g5cy4  7#ac7 ,public   
safety telecommunicators1 includ+ #i-a-a
 op]ators & fire dispat*]s1 are !       
backbone ( our national em]g5cy response
 sy/em4 ,!y provide r\nd-!-clock cov]age
 9 m ?an #f1jjj em]g5cy communication   
c5t]s ar\nd ! c\ntry4  7#ad7 ,public    
safety telecommunicators are responsible
 = answ]+ em]g5cy & nonem]g5cy calls &  
direct+ police1 fire & rescue1 & o!r    
em]g5cy response p]sonnel to assi/ ^? 9 
ne$4 ,!y are requir$ to multitask1      
conduct on-!-spot problem solv+1 &      
ma9ta9 composure & compassion1 :ile     
coa*+ call]s ?r\gh (t5 difficult &      
di/urb+ situations l home invasions1    
incid5ts ( dome/ic viol5ce1 burn+ homes1
 automobile accid5ts & fatalities1 &    
homicides4  7#ae7 ,! "w ( public safety 

telecommunicators is (t5 high-/ress1    
fa/-pac$1 & emotionally dem&+4 ,e day1  
!y are fac$ ) *all5ges & trauma t places
 !m at increas$ risk = develop+ m5tal   
heal? *all5ges4  7#af7 ,accord+ to      
/udies conduct$ by ,national ,in/itute =
 ,occupational ,safety & ,heal?1 betwe5 
#ag p]c5t & #bd p]c5t ( public safety   
telecommunicators h symptoms (          
po/-traumatic /ress disord] & #bd p]c5t 
h symptoms ( depression4 ,:ile          
telecommunicators are (t5 ! v fir/      
respond]s engag$ ) ^? on sc5e1 rese>* on
 _! suicide risk & m5tal heal? has      
lagg$4  7#ag7 ,despite play+ a critical 
role 9 protect+ & sav+ lives 9 em]g5cy  
situations1 public safety               
telecommunicators are classifi$ by mo/  
,/ates & by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t z (fice &
 adm9i/rative support p]sonnel & n z    
fir/ respond]s1 leav+ !m )\t access to  
important m5tal heal? res\rces available
 to o!r em]g5cy response pr(essionals4  
#c4 ,crisis c\nsel+ assi/ance & tra9+   
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #daf7;a7 ( !      

,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &     
,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#eahc7;a77 is am5d$ by ins]t+ & to      
qualifi$ em]g5cy response provid]s      
respond+ to major disa/]s aft] victims (
 major disa/]s4  7b7 ,def9itions        
,section #ajb ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d     
,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb7 is am5d$ by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#ac7 ,public  
safety telecommunicator ,! t]m public   
safety telecommunicator means a public  
safety telecommunicator z designat$ 9   
detail$ occupation #dc-ejca 9 ! ,/&>d   
,occupational ,classification ,manual ( 
! ,(fice ( ,managem5t & ,budget issu$ 9 
#bjah1 or any successor designation4    
7#ad7 ,qualifi$ em]g5cy response        
provid]s ,! t]m qualifi$ em]g5cy        
response provid]s means-- 7,a7 em]g5cy  
response provid]s 7z def9$ 9 section #b 
( ! ,homel& ,security ,act ( #bjjb 7#f  
,u4,s4,c4 #aja772 &  7,b7 public safety 
telecommunicators4  4  #d4 ,specializ$  
s]vices = fir/ respond]s ,subp>t #c ( "p

 ,b ( title ,v ( ! ,public ,heal?       
,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;bb-#ca7
 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3    
#ebj,o4 ,specializ$ s]vices = fir/      
respond]s  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an  
#b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human     
,s]vices1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,assi/ant        
,secret>y ( ! ,sub/ance ,abuse & ,m5tal 
,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 %all develop &    
c>ry out a compreh5sive program design$ 
to provide m5tal heal? s]vices          
specifically tailor$ to qualifi$ em]g5cy
 response provid]s4 ,su* program %all-- 
7#a7 provide = m5tal heal? c>e          
availability to qualifi$ em]g5cy        
response provid]s on a #bd-;h\r basis2  
7#b7 provide = a qualifi$ em]g5cy       
response provid]s hotl9e op]at$ ?r\gh ! 
#ihh ,suicide & ,crisis ,lifel9e "u     
section #ebj;,e-#c ( ! ,public ,heal?   
,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4             
#bij;bb-#cf;c7 t is confid5tial &       
toll-free1 suffici5tly /aff$ by         
appropriately tra9$ m5tal heal? p]sonnel

 & available at all times2 &  7#c7      
provide = outrea* to1 & education       
programs =1 qualifi$ em]g5cy response   
provid]s & _! families1 ) priority giv5 
to qualifi$ em]g5cy response provid]s ( 
major disa/]s4  7b7 ,be/ practices      
rese>*  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all1
 9 consultation ) ! heads ( ! ag5cies   
specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 conduct or    
support rese>* on be/ practices =       
provid+ m5tal heal? s]vices to1 & prev5t
 suicide among1 qualifi$ em]g5cy        
response provid]s4  7#b7 ,ag5cies       
specifi$ ,! ag5cies specifi$ 9 ?is      
p>agraph are ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,homel& ,security4  7,b7 ,! ,f$]al   
,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,ag5cy4  7,c7 ,!    
,unit$ ,/ates ,fire ,adm9i/ration4  7,d7
 ,! ,national ,in/itute ( ,m5tal ,heal?4
  7,e7 ,! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control &  
,prev5tion4  7,f7 ,! ,dep>tm5t (        
,ju/ice4  7c7 ,in=mation address$ 9     
education programs ,education provid$ "u
 subsection 7a77#c7 %all include        
in=mation design$ to-- 7#a7 remove !    

/igma associat$ ) m5tal illness2  7#b7  
enc\rage qualifi$ em]g5cy response      
provid]s to seek treatm5t & assi/ance = 
m5tal illness2  7#c7 promote skills =   
cop+ ) m5tal illness2 &  7#d7 help      
families ( qualifi$ em]g5cy response    
provid]s )-- 7,a7 und]/&+ issues aris+ f
 ! transition ( qualifi$ em]g5cy        
response provid]s back into family life 
& regul> "w1 foll[+ ! end ( a disa/]    
assignm5t2  7,b7 id5tify+ signs &       
symptoms ( m5tal illness2 &  7,c7       
enc\rag+ qualifi$ em]g5cy response      
provid]s to seek assi/ance = m5tal      
illness4  7d7 ,pe] support c\nsel+      
program  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y     
%all1 z "p ( ! compreh5sive program "u  
?is section1 e/abli% & c>ry out a pe]   
support c\nsel+ program1 "u :i* active &
 retir$ qualifi$ em]g5cy response       
provid]s may volunte] z pe] c\nselors-- 
7,a7 to assi/ o!r qualifi$ em]g5cy      
response provid]s ) issues relat$ to    
m5tal heal?1 read9ess1 & readju/m5t2 &  
7,b7 to conduct outrea* to qualifi$     

em]g5cy response provid]s & _! families4
  7#b7 ,adm9i/ration ,9 c>ry+ out ! pe] 
support c\nsel+ program "u ?is section1 
! ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 provide =       
adequate tra9+ ( individuals :o volunte]
 to s]ve z pe] c\nselors1 includ+ tra9+ 
c>ri$ out "u section #daf7;a7 ( ! ,rob]t
 ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy  
,assi/ance ,act2 &  7,b7 coord9ate ) su*
 community organizations1 ,/ate & local 
gov]nm5ts1 in/itutions ( high]          
education1 *amb]s ( comm]ce1 local      
bus9ess organizations1 organizations t  
provide m5tal heal? s]vices1 & o!r      
organizations z ! ,secret>y consid]s    
appropriate4  7e7 ,o!r compon5ts ,!     
,secret>y may take su* o!r actions to   
c>ry out ! compreh5sive program "u ?is  
section z ! ,secret>y det]m9es          
appropriate = purposes ( r$uc+ !        
incid5ce ( m5tal illness & suicide among
 qualifi$ em]g5cy response provid]s4    
7f7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,public safety telecommunicators ,! t]m 
8public safety telecommunicator0 means a

 public safety telecommunicator z       
designat$ 9 detail$ occupation #dc-ejca 
9 ! ,/&>d ,occupational ,classification 
,manual ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &       
,budget issu$ 9 #bjah1 or any successor 
designation4  7#b7 ,qualifi$ em]g5cy    
response provid]s ,! t]m qualifi$       
em]g5cy response provid]s means-- 7,a7  
em]g5cy response provid]s 7z def9$ 9    
section #b ( ! ,homel& ,security ,act ( 
#bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aja772 &  7,b7     
public safety telecommunicators4  7#c7  
,major disa/] ,! t]m major disa/] has ! 
mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section #ajb ( !   
,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &     
,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#eabb74  #ebj,p4 ,on-site m5tal heal?   
s]vices grants  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,assi/ant       
,secret>y = ,m5tal ,heal? & ,sub/ance   
,use1 %all aw>d competitive grants to   
eligible entities to e/abli% a new heal?
 c>e deliv]y site t is a mobile unit to 
provide integrat$1 %ort-t]m crisis      
s]vices to qualifi$ em]g5cy response    

provid]s ( a major disa/]4 ,su* s]vices 
%all be-- 7#a7 l+ui/ically & culturally 
appropriate2  7#b7 trauma-in=m$2 &  7#c7
 incorporate disa/] behavioral          
int]v5tions4  7b7 ,use ( funds ,an      
eligible entity t receives a grant "u   
?is subsection may use funds receiv$    
?r\gh ! grant to provide mobile crisis  
response1 /abilization1 & int]v5tion    
s]vices1 includ+-- 7#a7 initial support 
& triage via mobile crisis team visits2 
7#b7 on-site scre5+ & evaluation ( m5tal
 & behavioral heal? issues2  7#c7       
assessm5t ( curr5t supports & res\rces2 
7#d7 %ort-t]m crisis managem5t ?r\gh\t a
 major disa/]2  7#e7 ref]ral =          
appropriate foll[-up s]vices1 includ+   
sub-acute or acute hospital c>e2  7#f7  
supportive1 collaborative crisis plann+2
  7#g7 consultation ) exi/+ supports &  
s]vices2 &  7#h7 self-c>e te*niques &   
resili5ce tra9+4  7c7 ,au?oriz$ pur*ase 
or lease ,! ,secret>y may pur*ase or    
lease equipm5t = purposes ( c>ry+ out   
?is section1 :i* may include data &     

in=mation sy/ems 7includ+ ! co/s (      
repay+ ! pr9cipal (1 & pay+ ! int]e/ on1
 loans = equipm5t74  7d7 ,grant t]ms    
7#a7 ,maximum am\nt ,! am\nt ( a grant  
aw>d$ "u subsection 7a7 may n exce$     
#aej1jjj4  7#b7 ,duration ,! t]m ( a    
grant aw>d$ "u subsection 7a7 %all be = 
a p]iod ( n less ?an #f mon?s4 ,su* t]m 
is r5ewable = a s+le1 additional t]m s t
 ! total t]m ( ! grant does n exce$ #b  
ye>s4  7e7 ,evaluations & ,te*nical     
,assi/ance ,! ,secret>y %all-- 7#a7     
evaluate ! activities support$ by grants
 aw>d$ "u subsection 7a71 & dissem9ate1 
z appropriate1 ! f9d+s f ! evaluation2  
7#b7 provide appropriate in=mation1     
tra9+1 & te*nical assi/ance1 z          
appropriate1 to eligible entities t     
receive a grant "u ?is section1 to help 
su* entities to meet ! requirem5ts ( ?is
 section1 includ+ assi/ance ) selection 
& implem5tation ( evid5ce-bas$          
int]v5tions & frameworks to protect !   
m5tal heal? ( qualifi$ em]g5cy response 
provid]s2 &  7#c7 id5tify be/ practices1

 z applicable1 to improve !             
id5tification1 assessm5t1 treatm5t1 &   
timely transition1 z appropriate1 to    
additional or foll[-up c>e = qualifi$   
em]g5cy response provid]s :o are at risk
 = m5tal illness1 suicide1 & sub/ance   
abuse1 & enhance ! coord9ation ( c>e =  
su* individuals dur+ & aft] a major     
disa/]1 9 support ( activities support$ 
by grants aw>d$ "u subsection 7a74  7f7 
,def9itions  7#a7 ,eligible entity ,!   
t]m eligible entity means a ,/ate1      
local1 t]ritorial1 or ,tribal heal?     
dep>tm5t1 community heal? c5t]1 rural   
heal? cl9ic1 or nonpr(it organization   
t-- 7,a7 is locat$ 9 or ar\nd a major   
disa/] area2 &  7,b7 has exp]i5ce work+ 
) qualifi$ m5tal heal? pr(essionals 9   
provid+ m5tal heal?1 sub/ance use1 or   
c\nsel+ s]vices4  7#b7 ,major disa/] ,! 
t]m major disa/] has ! mean+ giv5 su*   
t]m 9 section #ajb ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d
 ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance  
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb74  7#c7 ,major
 disa/] area ,! t]m major disa/] area   

has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section      
#fbe4b ( title #bj1 ,code ( ,f$]al      
,regulations 7or successor regulations74
  7#d7 ,public safety telecommunicators 
,! t]m 8public safety telecommunicator0 
means a public safety telecommunicator z
 designat$ 9 detail$ occupation #dc-ejca
 9 ! ,/&>d ,occupational ,classification
 ,manual ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &      
,budget issu$ 9 #bjah1 or any successor 
designation4  7#e7 ,qualifi$ em]g5cy    
response provid]s ,! t]m qualifi$       
em]g5cy response provid]s means-- 7,a7  
em]g5cy response provid]s 7z def9$ 9    
section #b ( ! ,homel& ,security ,act ( 
#bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aja772 &  7,b7     
public safety telecommunicators4  7#f7  
,qualifi$ m5tal heal? pr(essional ,! t]m
 qualifi$ m5tal heal? pr(essional means 
a heal? c>e practition] or social &     
human s]vices provid] :o-- 7,a7 is      
lic5s$ or c]tifi$ "u ,/ate law 9 ! ,/ate
 involv$2 &  7,b7 (f]s s]vices = !      
purpose ( improv+ an individual's m5tal 
heal? or to treat m5tal heal? or        

sub/ance use disord]s1 includ+-- 7i7 a  
physician1 allopa?ic physicians1        
o/eopa?ic physician1 nurse practition]1 
or physician assi/ant ) a specialty 9   
m5tal & psy*iatry2  7ii7 a heal? s]vice 
psy*ologi/2  7iii7 a lic5s$ cl9ical     
social work]2  7iv7 a psy*iatric nurse  
speciali/2  7v7 a m>riage & family      
!rapi/2  7vi7 a lic5s$ pr(essional      
c\nselor2  7vii7 a sub/ance use disord] 
c\nselor2  7viii7 an occupational       
!rapi/2 or  7ix7 any o!r individual :o--
 7,i7 has n yet be5 lic5s$ or c]tifi$ to
 s]ve z a pr(essional li/$ 9 any (      
clauses 7i7 ?r\gh 7viii72 &  7,,ii7 w   
s]ve at a ,f$]ally qualifi$ heal? c5t]  
7z def9$ 9 section #ahfa7;aa77#d7 ( !   
,social ,security ,act7 "u ! sup]vision 
( a lic5s$ individual or c]tifi$        
pr(essional s li/$4  7g7 ,au?orization (
 appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section     
#e1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbd    
?r\gh #bjbh4  4