HB 671-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
15-0767
01/10
HOUSE BILL 671-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a state mental health first aid program and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Rep. MacKay, Merr 14; Rep. Snow, Hills 42; Rep. Deloge, Merr 16; Rep. LeBrun, Hills 32; Rep. Frazer, Merr 13; Rep. Kenison, Merr 15; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill requires the department of health and human services to establish a mental health first aid training program to help members of the public identify and understand the signs of mental illness or substance abuse. The bill makes an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0767
01/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT establishing a state mental health first aid program and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Purpose.
I. The general court recognizes the need to address mental illness and substance abuse disorders among New Hampshire citizens before they become crisis situations.
II. Therefore the general court hereby establishes the mental health first aid training program. Mental health first aid training is an education program designed to train first responders and others in the community to recognize individuals experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse disorder and to direct them to appropriate treatment. Like traditional first aid, mental health first aid training prepares individuals to interact with a person in crisis and to connect that person to assistance. By increasing public awareness and understanding, mental health first aid also serves to de-stigmatize mental illness and addiction in New Hampshire and communities.
2 New Section; Mental Health Services System; Mental Health First Aid Program Established. Amend RSA 135-C by inserting after section 14 the following new section:
135-C:14-a Mental Health First Aid Program Established; Intent.
I. The department shall establish a mental health first aid training program in collaboration with the bureau of behavioral health and the community mental health system, to help train members of the public to identify and understand the signs of a mental illness or substance abuse problem or a mental health crisis; to provide the public with skills to help a person who is developing or experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse crisis; and to de-escalate crisis situations.
(a) Instructors in the training program shall be certified by a national authority for Mental Health First Aid (USA) or a similar organization. The training program shall work cooperatively with local entities to provide training for individuals to become instructors.
(b) The program shall be designed to train individuals to accomplish the following objectives as deemed appropriate considering the trainee’s age: help the public identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illness and substance abuse; emphasize the need to reduce the stigma of mental illness; and assist a person who is believed to be developing or has developed a mental health or substance abuse problem or who is believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis.
(c) The program shall offer services to and work with state, county, and local agencies and organizations, including, but not limited to, schools, universities, colleges, the department of education, the department of safety, the department of corrections, the court system, local law enforcement agencies, hospitals and health departments.
(d) When awarding training grants under this section, the department shall distribute training grants equitably among the geographical regions of the state paying particular attention to the training needs of rural areas and areas with underserved populations or professional shortages.
II. The department shall ensure that evaluative criteria are established which measure the efficacy of the mental health first aid training program, including trainee feedback. The department shall submit an annual report to the oversight committee on health and human services on trainee demographics and outcomes of the established criteria commencing on November 1, 2015.
3 Appropriation; Mental Health First Aid Program. The sum of $1 for the biennium ending June 30, 2017 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for training grants for the mental health first aid program established in section 2 of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
15-0767
01/26/15
HB 671-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a state mental health first aid program and making an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Health and Human Services, who was contacted on 12/30/14. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.