[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3498 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3498
To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services
and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all
residents and visitors in the United States for mental health
emergencies, homelessness needs, other social and human services needs,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 18, 2023
Mr. Higgins of New York (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services
and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all
residents and visitors in the United States for mental health
emergencies, homelessness needs, other social and human services needs,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Human-services Emergency Logistic
Program Act of 2023'' or the ``HELP Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To strengthen the existing 211 services and to
coordinate 211 and 988 services in States throughout the
Nation.
(2) To increase the availability, reliability, and
responsiveness of 211 and 988 services, and improve information
and referral through 211 and 988 services, across the country,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
(3) To reduce the use of 911 services for circumstances not
related to law enforcement, fire, or medical emergencies.
(4) To more efficiently connect individuals with mental
health services and other needed human services.
(5) To reduce the arrests, incarcerations, and violent
interactions between law enforcement and individuals that
sometimes occur from inappropriate 911 emergency referrals.
SEC. 3. ALLOTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN NATIONWIDE ACCESSIBILITY AND
COORDINATION OF 211 AND 988 SERVICES FOR INFORMATION AND
REFERRAL FOR HUMAN SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
(a) In General.--Out of amounts appropriated under section 4(a)
that remain after application of section 4(b), the Secretary of Health
and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''),
acting through the Human Services National Board, shall make an
allotment to each State, in accordance with the formula developed under
subsection (b), to carry out a program for the purposes of--
(1) ensuring 211 and 988 services are directly accessible
to all individuals in each State;
(2) ensuring capacity within each State for 988 services
through the operational support of State designated crisis
centers within the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Network;
(3) strengthening the reliability, accessibility, and
responsiveness of methods of communication through 211 and 988
services, in order to provide information and referrals with
respect to human services provided through the respective 211
or 988 services, including mental health emergency resources
and suicide prevention resources provided through 988 services,
homelessness resources, domestic violence resources, resources
to identify and address child, adult, and elder abuse and
exploitation, caregiver and child care resources, and other
human service needs provided through 211 services; and
(4) reducing law enforcement interactions with people with
disabilities and individuals experiencing human-services or
mental health needs, and increasing the capacity to divert
calls from 911 or police departments to mental health and human
services responders, as appropriate.
(b) Allotments to States.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of making allotments under
this section, the Secretary shall develop a formula for
determining the allotment amounts for each State. Such formula
shall be based on population, population density, poverty rate,
and other evidence-based predictive data related to the needs
of the State for, and access to, mental health and other human
services. Allotments made under this section, and the services
provided through such allotments, shall not supplant funding
otherwise made available to the State for such purposes, or
services otherwise provided by the State for such purposes.
(2) Non-federal contributions.--A State may not be eligible
for an allotment under this section unless the State ensures
that at least 25 percent of the resources of the program funded
by the State allotment will be derived from non-Federal
sources, which may include in-kind contributions of goods or
services.
(3) Requirement regarding state allotment amounts.--Of the
amounts allotted to a State under this section, not more than
15 percent shall be allocated for evaluation, training, and
technical assistance, and for management and administration of
subgrants awarded under this section.
(4) Administrative costs.--From the allotment made to a
State under this subsection, the State Human Services
Collaborative may retain the greater of \1/2\ of 1 percent of
such allotment or $50,000, for administrative costs.
(c) Human Services National Board.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a Human
Services National Board for purposes of--
(A) managing and allocating funds under this
section, including making allotments to States;
(B) reviewing State plans for implementing and
maintaining 211 systems and coordinating the 211 and
988 systems;
(C) evaluating State 211 and 988 systems, including
with respect to capacity for answering and responding
to calls; and
(D) evaluating the coordination and collaboration
among 211, 988, and 911 services and other emergency
and call center systems.
(2) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The Human Services National Board
shall be comprised of not fewer than 19 members
selected by the Secretary in accordance with
subparagraph (B), of which 11 shall be permanent
members, and 8 shall serve 3-year, rotating terms.
(B) Members.--
(i) Permanent members.--The 11 permanent
members shall be comprised of one
representative from each of--
(I) the Alliance of Information and
Referral Systems;
(II) United Way Worldwide;
(III) the National Council on
Independent Living;
(IV) the National Association of
Area Agencies on Aging;
(V) the Bazelon Center for Mental
Health Law;
(VI) the Leadership Conference on
Civil and Human Rights;
(VII) the National Alliance to End
Homelessness;
(VIII) the Fraternal Order of
Police;
(IX) the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline;
(X) the National Domestic Violence
Hotline; and
(XI) the National Emergency Number
Association.
(ii) Rotating members.--The 8 rotating
members shall be selected by the Secretary,
with input from stakeholders and advocates, and
shall include--
(I) 1 representative of a faith-
based organization dedicated to
providing human services;
(II) 1 representative of an
organization dedicated to ensuring
racial and ethnic equity;
(III) 1 representative of a
disability organization operated by a
majority of people with disabilities;
(IV) 1 representative of an
organization representing older adults;
(V) 1 representative of an
organization representing Tribal and
Native peoples;
(VI) 1 representative of an
organization representing LGBTQ+
populations;
(VII) 1 representative of a secular
organization dedicated to providing
human services; and
(VIII) 1 representative of a law
enforcement labor or representative
organization.
(iii) Additional rotating members.--In
addition to the members appointed under clauses
(i) and (ii), the Secretary may appoint to the
Human Services National Board up to 4
additional rotating members to represent
specific populations or issues. Each such
member shall serve a 3 year term.
(iv) Ex officio members.--Ex officio
members of the Human Services National Board
shall include 1 representative from each of--
(I) the Department of Health and
Human Services;
(II) the Department of Education;
(III) the Department of Homeland
Security;
(IV) the Department of Housing and
Urban Development;
(V) the Department of Commerce; and
(VI) the Department of Labor.
(3) Fiscal agent.--The Office of the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall be the fiscal agent of the Human
Services National Board.
(4) Chair and vice chair.--
(A) Chair selection.--The Chair of the Human
Services National Board shall be selected by the Human
Services National Board members, from among the
permanent members described in paragraph (2)(B)(i), and
shall serve a 5 year term.
(B) Vice chair selection.--The Vice Chair shall be
selected by the Human Services National Board members,
from among the rotating members described in paragraph
(2)(B)(ii), and shall serve a 3 year term.
(d) State Oversight Entities.--
(1) Human services collaboratives.--
(A) In general.--A State seeking an allotment under
this section, not later than 3 months after receiving
an allotment, shall appoint a lead entity (referred to
in this section as a ``Human Services Collaborative'')
for purposes of meeting the requirements of this
subsection.
(B) Human services collaborative.--A State lead
entity shall be treated as the State Human Services
Collaborative under this subsection if the entity--
(i)(I) is a State entity or an
independently incorporated nonprofit
organization serving as the lead implementing
agency coordinating and managing State and
regional projects and operations for 211 in the
State--
(aa) under State law; or
(bb) by order of the State public
utility commission;
(II) collaborates, to the extent
practicable, with the entities listed in clause
(ii); and
(III) collaborates with the Administrator
of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to
coordinate 988 operations with 211 operations
in the State; or
(ii) is a collaborative entity established
by the State for such purpose from among
representatives of--
(I) an informal, existing 211
statewide collaborative in the State;
(II) crisis centers within the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Network operating in the State;
(III) State agencies;
(IV) community-based organizations,
including--
(aa) organizations
representing older adults;
(bb) organizations
representing people with
disabilities;
(cc) where appropriate,
organizations representing
Native peoples and Tribal
nations;
(dd) organizations
representing people with mental
health disabilities; and
(ee) organizations led by
Black people, indigenous
people, or people of color
working to end racism;
(V) faith-based organizations
dedicated to providing human services;
(VI) nonprofit organizations
providing human services;
(VII) comprehensive and specialized
information and referral providers,
including area agencies on aging, aging
and disability resource centers, and
211 and 988 call centers;
(VIII) State and regional
foundations;
(IX) businesses headquartered in,
or with significant presence in, the
State; and
(X) law enforcement labor or
representative organizations
representing rank and file officers.
(2) Human services state oversight council.--
(A) In general.--Each State receiving an allotment
under this section shall establish a Human Services
State Oversight Council (referred to in this section as
a ``Council'') to provide guidance and oversight of the
211 and 988 systems to the State Human Services
Collaborative.
(B) Members.--
(i) In general.--Each Council shall be
comprised of not more than 25 stakeholders and
service providers appointed by the governor of
the State for staggered 3-year terms,
including--
(I) at least 3 representatives of
human service providers;
(II) at least 2 adults over the age
of 60;
(III) at least 3 people with
disabilities;
(IV) at least 3 additional people
with mental health disabilities;
(V) at least 1 individual with a
child under 18 years of age;
(VI) at least 1 individual caring
for an older adult;
(VII) at least 1 individual
providing support for a relative with a
disability;
(VIII) at least 3 individuals who
are members of a family that receives
means tested Federal benefits, such as
temporary assistance for needy families
under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.),
the supplemental nutrition assistance
program established under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et
seq.), or the supplemental security
income program established under title
XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
(IX) at least 1 business
representative; and
(X) at least 1 representative of a
law enforcement labor or representative