Amendment #1311 to H4700

Mental Health Access Equity Fund

Representatives Robertson of Tewksbury, Howard of Lowell and Nguyen of Andover Moves to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting after item 4590-1507 the following item:

“XXXX-XXXX For the Mental Health Access Equity Fund established in section 244 of chapter 111 of the General Laws…………………………………………….……$250,000”

And by adding the following section:

"SECTION XX. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 244. (a) There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund known as the Mental Health Access Equity Fund, to be administered by the department of public health, to support state-run programs that ensure access to quality, affordable mental health services in small communities; provided that the Fund shall be used for grants to municipalities that have a population of under 35,000 according to the 2020 census and in which a department of public health hospital is located; provided, further, that such hospital: (i) has more than 380 total staffed beds in FY2019 according to the CHIA Department of Public Health 2019 hospital profile and (ii) has services dedicated to psychiatric  patients according to the CHIA Department of Public Health 2019 hospital profile.

(b) There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations and other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) funds from public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations; and (iii) interest earned on any money in the fund. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended without further appropriation. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years. No expenditure shall be made from said fund which shall cause said fund to be in deficit at the close of a fiscal year.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1311 to H4700

Mental Health Access Equity Fund