103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4665

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
20 ILCS 301/55-31 new
30 ILCS 105/5.1015 new

    Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program Act. Creates within the Department of Human Services a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program to provide grants to mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Creates the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money in the Fund shall be used by the Secretary of the Department to make grants to eligible mental health facilities and substance use disorder treatment programs. Requires grant recipients to use grant funds for expenses related to recruiting, retaining, and compensating licensed mental health or substance use disorder professionals. Provides that each grant recipient shall receive up to $200,000 in grant funding for each mental health or substance use disorder professional employed, engaged, or contracted by the recipient. Contains provisions concerning application requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Equity in Accessibility Law. Requires the Department to provide funding and reimbursement for those costs associated with the provision of American Sign Language services and interpretive services for non-English speaking patients at substance use disorder treatment programs and facilities. Provides that funding and reimbursement shall be based upon the actual cost incurred by the substance use disorder treatment program or facility and shall reflect regional differences in costs and expenses related to the provision of American Sign Language and interpretive services at each location. Contains provisions on applications requirements and Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning mental health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Mental
5Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant
6Program Act.
 
7    Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
8finds that:
9    (1) The cost related to employing and retaining licensed
10mental health and substance use disorder professionals at
11community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics,
12and community-based substance use disorder programs have risen
13at dramatic rates in the past few years due to the short supply
14of qualified individuals, the public health emergency, and the
15increase in the need for mental health and substance use
16disorder services and treatment.
17    (2) The financial resources relied upon by community
18mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, and
19community-based substance use disorder programs, including
20State and federal funding and reimbursement under the Medicaid
21program, grant awards, and reimbursements from commercial
22insurance, have not kept pace with the increase in costs
23associated with the employment and retention of licensed

 

 

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1mental health and substance use disorder professionals.
2    (3) Mental health and substance use disorder professionals
3are necessary to provide treatment and supervision of other
4staff in community mental health centers, behavioral health
5clinics, and substance use disorder treatment programs.
6    (4) The supply of such licensed professionals has not kept
7pace with the demand for their services and the behavioral
8health professional shortage has caused a crisis in the
9availability and capacity to provide necessary mental health
10and substance use disorder treatment and services.
 
11    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
12    "Mental health facility" has the same meaning ascribed to
13that term in Section 1-114 of the Mental Health and
14Developmental Disabilities Code when used in reference to a
15facility that provides community-based mental health disorder
16treatment.
17    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
18    "Mental health or substance use disorder professional" or
19"professional" means a psychiatrist, physician, advanced
20practice registered nurse, physician assistant, registered
21nurse, licensed practical nurse, phlebotomist, medical
22assistant, and emergency medical technician-basic.
 
23    Section 15. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
24Professional Support Grant Program.

 

 

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1    (a) There is created within the Department a Mental Health
2and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program
3to provide grants to the following recipients:
4        (1) mental health facilities; and
5        (2) substance use disorder treatment programs licensed
6    by the Department.
7    (b) The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
8Professional Support Grant Fund is created as a special fund
9in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of any moneys
10appropriated into the Fund for the purposes of this Act.
11Subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be
12disbursed by the Secretary of the Department to make grants to
13eligible recipients as provided in subsection (a). All
14interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into
15the Fund.
16    (c) Recipients eligible for grants under this Section
17shall use the grants for expenses related to recruiting,
18retaining, and compensating licensed mental health or
19substance use disorder professionals. Grants shall be used to
20offset expenses associated with such professionals that are
21incurred by the recipient.
22    (d) Each recipient shall be eligible for up to $200,000 in
23grant funding for each professional employed, engaged, or
24contracted by the recipient.
25    (e) Applicants seeking grants under this Act shall apply
26to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the

 

 

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1Department. Recipients shall not be required to demonstrate
2the need for grant funds associated with engaging or retaining
3professionals, if they meet all other applicable State
4licensing or certification requirements.
5    (f) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to
6implement this Act.
 
7    Section 90. The Substance Use Disorder Act is amended by
8adding Section 55-31 as follows:
 
9    (20 ILCS 301/55-31 new)
10    Sec. 55-31. Sign language services and funding for
11non-English speaking patients.
12    (a) This Section may be referred to as the Equity in
13Accessibility Law. The Department shall provide funding and
14reimbursement for those costs associated with the provision of
15American Sign Language services and interpretive services for
16non-English speaking patients at substance use disorder
17treatment programs and facilities. The funding and
18reimbursement shall be based upon the actual cost incurred by
19the substance use disorder treatment program or facility and
20shall reflect regional differences in costs and expenses
21related to the provision of American Sign Language and
22interpretive services at each location.
23    (b) Applicants seeking funding under this Section shall
24apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the

 

 

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1Department. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to
2implement this Section.
 
3    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
4Section 5.1015 as follows:
 
5    (30 ILCS 105/5.1015 new)
6    Sec. 5.1015. The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
7Professional Support Grant Fund.
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.