Bill Details
HR.1448 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-21 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced Date
2025-02-21
Policy Area
Health
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (9)
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-Oregon-6]
- Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-District of Columbia]
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-New Jersey-12]
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-Michigan-13]
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-New York-20]
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-Alabama-7]
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-Florida-20]
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-Illinois-4]
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-New Jersey-5]
6
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would create a federal grant program to help schools teach people how to spot mental health problems early and respond in a helpful way. The grants could be used to train teachers, school staff, students, parents, and caregivers to recognize signs of mental distress in children and teens, refer students to mental health services, and use basic mental health first aid when someone may be in immediate trouble. It also would support education about local mental health resources. The bill gives special attention to rural schools, requires applicants to explain how they will evaluate their work, and tells the government to make the application process easier. It would authorize about $25 million a year from 2026 through 2030.
- Schools, school districts, and state education agencies could apply for grants.
- At least 25% of the money each year would be set aside for elementary and secondary schools in rural areas, or for groups applying on their behalf.
- Grant recipients could use the money to teach people how to notice warning signs, connect students to care, and learn what mental health help is available in the community.
- The Health and Human Services Department would also provide technical help and share best practices with schools and other applicants.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1448 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1448
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for
Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants for peer mental health
first aid, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2025
Ms. Balint (for herself, Ms. Salinas, and Ms. Norton) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for
Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants for peer mental health
first aid, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Peer Education and Emergency
Response for Mental Health Act of 2025'' or the ``PEER Mental Health
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PEER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 520J of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) the following:
``SEC. 520J-1. GRANTS FOR PEER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities--
``(1) to train teachers, other relevant school personnel
(including education support professionals), students, and
parents and caregivers of students--
``(A) to recognize symptoms of childhood and
adolescent mental health conditions;
``(B) to refer students to appropriate mental
health services if necessary; and
``(C) to recognize signs of immediate mental
distress and, upon recognizing such signs apply mental
health first aid tactics; and
``(2) to provide education to such teachers, personnel,
students, parents, and caregivers regarding resources that are
available in the community for individuals with a mental
illness.
``(b) Relation to Other Mental Health Awareness Training Grants.--
An eligible entity may receive grant funds under this section in
addition to receiving amounts made available to such eligible entity
pursuant to section 520J.
``(c) Allocation for Schools in Rural Areas.--
``(1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretary shall award not less than 25 percent of the
amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal
year to eligible entities that are elementary schools or
secondary schools in rural areas or that are applying for
grants on behalf of such schools.
``(2) Reallocation.--If the Secretary is unable to obligate
the total amount of funds set aside under paragraph (1) for a
fiscal year due to a lack of qualified applications from
eligible applicants described in paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall reallocate the remainder of such funds for making grants
under this section to other eligible entities.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To seek a grant under this section, an
eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require, including a plan for the rigorous
evaluation of activities that are carried out with funds
received through the grant.
``(2) Streamlined process.--The Secretary shall streamline
the process for applying for a grant under this section so as
to keep such process from imposing an unreasonable barrier,
especially for eligible entities with limited personnel
available to prepare a grant application.
``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance to eligible entities applying for, or receiving, grants
under this section. Such technical assistance shall include the
development and dissemination of best practices for providing training
and education described in subsection (a).
``(f) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) The terms `elementary school', `local educational
agency', `secondary school', and `State educational agency'
have the meanings given to those terms in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(2) The term `eligible entity' means an elementary
school, a local educational agency, a secondary school, or a
State educational agency.
``(3) The term `rural area' refers to a rural area as
defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration for
purposes of awarding rural health grants.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $24,963,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.''.
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