This bill amends section 71-812 of the Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, to expand the use of the Behavioral Health Services Fund to include individuals with substance use disorders. The fund, which is administered by the division, is intended to support the development and provision of community-based behavioral health services through grants, loans, and reimbursements to service providers. The bill specifies that funds transferred to the Behavioral Health Services Fund for housing-related assistance can now be utilized for very low-income adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorders. Additionally, it allows for the distribution of excess funds to regional behavioral health authorities for housing acquisition or rehabilitation.

Key definitions are updated in the bill, including the replacement of the term "person" with "individual" in the context of serious mental illness, and the inclusion of substance use disorder in the definitions of eligible individuals. The bill also clarifies that serious mental illness does not include certain DSM V-code diagnoses unless they coexist with a diagnosable serious mental illness. Furthermore, it introduces new definitions for housing-related assistance and landlord risk mitigation payments, ensuring that the fund can effectively address the needs of individuals facing both mental health and substance use challenges. The original section 71-812 is repealed as part of this legislative update.

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