This bill amends sections 71-809 and 71-812 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to enhance the framework for regional behavioral health authorities and the Behavioral Health Services Fund. Key changes include the introduction of a provision that allows behavioral health services providers to offer new services or expand existing ones with departmental approval, provided they meet specific enrollment and contracting criteria. Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for regional behavioral health authorities to provide services funded by the division, stipulating that a public competitive bidding process is necessary unless certain conditions are met, including a lack of qualified providers.

Furthermore, the Behavioral Health Services Fund is established to support the development of community-based behavioral health services, with provisions for grants and reimbursements to service providers. The bill also expands the definition of housing-related assistance to include support for individuals with substance abuse disorders, alongside those with serious mental illness. The division is tasked with managing and distributing funds from this source, ensuring that they are used effectively to promote the public behavioral health system's goals. The original sections of the statutes are repealed to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-809, 71-812
Final Reading: 71-809, 71-812
Slip Law: 71-809, 71-812