S 779

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 27, 2025

Mr. Padilla (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for prevention and early intervention services under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program, 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 “Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act” or the “EARLY Minds Act”.

SEC. 2. EARLY INTERVENTION.

(a) State Plan Option.—Section 1912(b)(1)(A)(vii) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-1(b)(1)(A)(vii)) is amended—

(1) in subclause (III), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(V) a description of any evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies and programs the State provides to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity and onset of mental illness and behavioral problems, including for children and adolescents, irrespective of experiencing a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, as defined under subsection (c)(1).”.

(b) Allocation Allowance; Reports.—Section 1920 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-9) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Prevention and Early Intervention Services.—In the case of a State with a State plan that provides for strategies and programs specified in section 1912(b)(1)(A)(vii)(V), such State may expend not more than 5 percent of the amount of the allotment of the State pursuant to a funding agreement under section 1911 for each fiscal year to support such strategies and programs.

“(f) Reports to Congress.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the EARLY Minds Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the prevention and early intervention strategies and programs pursued by States pursuant to subsection (e). Each such report shall include—

“(1) a list of the States that utilized the option to provide prevention and early intervention services;

“(2) a description of the prevention and early intervention activities of each such State;

“(3) the population served, including information on demographics, including age;

“(4) the outcomes of such activities, including—

“(A) how such activities reduced delays in access to mental and behavioral health care for children and adults; and

“(B) how such activities reduced the severity of onset of serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance; and

“(5) any other relevant information the Secretary determines necessary.”. <all>