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 to eligible entities to establish or maintain a student mental health and safety helpline, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Passed
Latest Action · November 9, 2023
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Bonamici asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 822, a bill originally introduced by Representative Stewart, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Student Mental Health Helpline Act
This bill authorizes grants to support student mental health and safety helplines (i.e., a free, confidential service that is accessible via telephone and other communication platforms that assists students facing challenges with abuse, bullying, depression, self-harm, and related issues). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) may award the grants to agencies or other subdivisions of a state, Indian tribe, or local government that are primarily responsible for health, public health, or education.
Recipients must use funds to establish or maintain a helpline that provides information to school officials (to the extent permitted by federal privacy standards for health information) about student mental health and safety concerns and related activities.
The bill also requires SAMHSA to report on the feasibility of setting up a nationally available student mental health and safety helpline.
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