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2023 SESSION

23102631D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1791
Offered January 11, 2023
Prefiled January 10, 2023
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 37.2 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 37.2-320, 37.2-321, and 37.2-322, relating to Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund; established.
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Patrons-- Filler-Corn, Cherry, Willett, Hope, Jenkins, Krizek, Murphy and Simon
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 37.2 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 37.2-320, 37.2-321, and 37.2-322, as follows:

Article 5.
Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund.

§ 37.2-320. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Eligible individual" means a service member, a veteran, the spouse of a service member or veteran, or a child of a service member or veteran.

"Fund" means the Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund created in this article.

"Service member" means military service members who perform full-time duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a reserve component thereof, including the National Guard.

"Veteran" means an individual who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

§ 37.2-321. Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund; purpose.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purpose of providing matching funds to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs to serve service members, veterans, and their families. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Commissioner.

§ 37.2-322. Administration of Veterans' Behavioral Health Services Grant Matching Fund.

A. The Fund shall be administered by the Department. Moneys in the fund shall be used to award competitive matching grants to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs that:

1. Serve the behavioral health needs of eligible individuals in the locality served by the nonprofit organization;

2. Meet national standards;

3. Integrate the delivery of mental health and substance use treatment; and

4. Connect eligible individuals to appropriate community-based care in a timely manner on discharge from the community behavioral health program.

B. To be eligible for a grant from the Fund, a nonprofit organization shall (i) provide behavioral health services or (ii) provide services to eligible individuals. An eligible nonprofit organization shall secure contributions for the proposal in an amount of money or other consideration at least equal in value to the amount of money requested from the Fund. In awarding matching grants from the Fund, the Department shall develop selection criteria for evaluating applicant proposals. The selection criteria developed under this subsection shall include positive scoring for proposals that (a) demonstrate fiscal controls, including by making use of multiple sources of funding; (b) evidence project effectiveness, including by showing how the grant awarded by the Fund will be used to augment existing services to create seamless behavioral health treatment; (c) show an applicant's previous successful experience administering grants; and (d) meet any other criteria the Department considers relevant. In awarding matching grants under this section, the Department shall give priority to proposals that best meet the selection criteria regardless of the projected cost.

The Department shall establish application procedures that implement the requirements of this subsection.

C. The Department shall establish a statewide system of outcome measurement to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of services provided by each nonprofit organization receiving a matching grant from the Fund. A nonprofit organization receiving a matching grant from the Fund shall submit any information that the Department determines is necessary for the statewide system of outcome measurement.

D. The Department shall establish guidelines that require nonprofit organizations that receive a matching grant from the Fund to bill third-party insurers and, when appropriate, the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

E. On or before November 30 of each year, beginning in 2024, the Department shall submit to the Governor and General Assembly a report that includes (i) the number of grants distributed; (ii) funds distributed by locality; (iii) information about grant recipients and the services provided through grant funding; and (iv) outcome data reported under the statewide system of measurement required under subsection C. The report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.