HB4665 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36136 KTG 66227 b

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.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning mental health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program Act.

Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The cost related to employing and retaining licensed mental health and substance use disorder professionals at community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, and community-based substance use disorder programs have risen at dramatic rates in the past few years due to the short supply of qualified individuals, the public health emergency, and the increase in the need for mental health and substance use disorder services and treatment.

(2) The financial resources relied upon by community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, and community-based substance use disorder programs, including State and federal funding and reimbursement under the Medicaid program, grant awards, and reimbursements from commercial insurance, have not kept pace with the increase in costs associated with the employment and retention of licensed mental health and substance use disorder professionals.

(3) Mental health and substance use disorder professionals are necessary to provide treatment and supervision of other staff in community mental health centers, behavioral health clinics, and substance use disorder treatment programs.

(4) The supply of such licensed professionals has not kept pace with the demand for their services and the behavioral health professional shortage has caused a crisis in the availability and capacity to provide necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Mental health facility" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-114 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code when used in reference to a facility that provides community-based mental health disorder treatment.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Mental health or substance use disorder professional" or "professional" means a psychiatrist, physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, phlebotomist, medical assistant, and emergency medical technician-basic.

Section 15. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program.

(a) There is created within the Department a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Program to provide grants to the following recipients:

(1) mental health facilities; and

(2) substance use disorder treatment programs licensed by the Department.

(b) The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of any moneys appropriated into the Fund for the purposes of this Act. Subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be disbursed by the Secretary of the Department to make grants to eligible recipients as provided in subsection (a). All interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.

(c) Recipients eligible for grants under this Section shall use the grants for expenses related to recruiting, retaining, and compensating licensed mental health or substance use disorder professionals. Grants shall be used to offset expenses associated with such professionals that are incurred by the recipient.

(d) Each recipient shall be eligible for up to $200,000 in grant funding for each professional employed, engaged, or contracted by the recipient.

(e) Applicants seeking grants under this Act shall apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. Recipients shall not be required to demonstrate the need for grant funds associated with engaging or retaining professionals, if they meet all other applicable State licensing or certification requirements.

(f) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act.

Section 90. The Substance Use Disorder Act is amended by adding Section 55-31 as follows:

(20 ILCS 301/55-31 new)

Sec. 55-31. Sign language services and funding for non-English speaking patients.

(a) This Section may be referred to as the Equity in Accessibility Law. The Department shall 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. The 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.

(b) Applicants seeking funding under this Section shall apply to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1015 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1015 new)

Sec. 5.1015. The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional Support Grant Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.