Amendment ID: S2519-31

Amendment 31

Mental Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Program

Ms. Creem, Messrs. Eldridge and O'Connor move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting the following new section: -

SECTION _: Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following section:-

Section 26. Mental health promotion and illness prevention, program establishment

Subject to appropriation, the department shall operate a statewide program for mental health promotion and illness prevention, the primary mission of which shall to be to advance the overall mental health and wellness of all residents of the Commonwealth, and to help prevent the onset of mental illness, particularly among populations at greatest risk for developing mental health conditions.

(a) The program shall be funded with revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and specifically credited to the program, and revenue from private sources including, but not limited to, grants, both state and federal, gifts and donations received by the commonwealth that are specifically credited to the program.

(b) The program shall publish an annual report including: (i) activities conducted over the course of the past 12 months; (ii) output and outcome; and (iii) lessons learned and implications for future activities. The department shall submit a report on behalf of the program by February 1st to the governor, secretary of health and human services, clerks of the senate and house of representatives, and the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use, and recovery.