Budget Amendment ID: FY2023-S4-597

EHS 597

Mental Health Access Equity Fund

Mr. Finegold moved that the proposed new text be amended 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 inserting after section 28 the following section:

"SECTION 28A. 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 to be 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, however, 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 has: (i) more than 380 total staffed beds as of 2019 according to the center for health information and analysis 2019 hospital profile and (ii) services dedicated to psychiatric patients according to the center for health information and analysis 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 the fund that shall cause the fund to be in deficit at the close of a fiscal year.”.