This bill establishes the Behavioral Health Trust Fund and a corresponding grant program aimed at enhancing the availability of behavioral health services tailored to the specific needs of communities and regions in Montana. The trust fund will accept contributions and gifts, which will be invested, with the interest and income generated being used to support grant proposals for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The bill outlines that the principal of the trust fund must remain intact unless appropriated by a two-thirds vote of the legislature. Additionally, it mandates that the annual earnings from the fund are statutorily appropriated to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for the grant program.

The bill also amends existing laws to incorporate new requirements for service area authorities, including the identification of priority needs for behavioral health services in consultation with local advisory councils. It includes a provision for a one-time transfer of $50 million from the general fund to the trust fund and appropriates $20 million from the trust fund for the grant program for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023. The effective date for the bill is set for July 1, 2023, with a delayed effective date for certain sections until July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17-7-502, 53-21-1006