Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA), P.L. 108-732, 118 STATS 2327-2336, passed unanimously by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on October 30, 2004. MIOTCRA provides grant funding to states/territories, local jurisdictions and organizations to facilitate programs that provide collaboration among criminal justice and behavioral health systems to ensure access to treatment and services for adults or juveniles with a mental illness or co-occurring addiction disorders who are in the criminal justice systems. The grants have funded a variety of best practices programs, such as mental health courts and crisis intervention teams.  

In February 2012, President Obama's FY13 budget proposed that drug and mental health courts programs be combined into a $57 million drug, mental health, and problem solving courts initiative. This proposal would eliminate many of the programs funded under MIOTCRA. In collaboration with the Council of State Government and other partnering organizations, NASMHPD advocated to Congress to oppose Obama's budget proposal and pass the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5326/S. 2323), which provides a total of $1.5 billion in funding. Specifically, $9 million is appropriated to MIOTCRA.
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA); Sen. Barbara Mikulksi (D-MD)
Status: House approved the bill (May 10, 2012). On April 19, 2012, the Senate version of the bill was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar No. 360.  

On March 22, 2012, NASMHPD and NASADAD jointly sponsored a Congressional briefing on the impact of the state budget crisis and treatment gap on the public mental health and addiction treatment systems across the United States.  During the briefing, a panel of mental health and addiction experts described the impact of state budget cuts on the behavioral health system and impact on persons recovering from mental health and addiction disorders and other community sectors, such as law enforcement, emergency departments, and the healthcare delivery system. Briefing Overview (PDF, 1.4 MB)

On February 16, 2011, NASMHMD hosted a special Senate briefing on the economy's impact on lower income populations who are being served by the public mental health system. A survey by the NASMHPD Research Institute found that from FY09 to FY11, states were forced to cut behavioral health funding by $2.2 billion even though demands for behavioral health and crisis services increased by almost 60%.  An expert panel gave their testimonies on how the budget cuts have impacted their organizations and access to mental health services. Opening Remarks (PDF, 34 KB), Power Point presentation (PDF, 587 KB)

Past Commissioner of Alabama, Zelia Baugh, testified before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on the Olmstead Enforcement Update: Using the ADA to Promote Community Integration held June 21, 2012.

Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 (S. 1481) was introduced July 21, 2009 and signed by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011. The bill amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act by improving supportive housing options for persons with disabilities and mental illness.

Due to the requirements in the Budget Control Act of 2011, President Obama's FY13 budget request for affordable housing programs was a combination of cuts or maintenance-level funding. In partnership with key housing coalitions and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, NASMHPD advocated for increased FY13 funding than what was allocated in FY12 and proposed by the Obama Administration.  On May 13, 2012, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $85 million toward the project-based rental assistance (PRA) demonstration to meet the severe housing crisis needs of persons with disabilities and serious mental illness. The funding is anticipated to support over 3,000 new supportive housing units.

Positive Aging Act (S. 525) is designed to improve integration between behavioral health care and primary care for older adults. In addition, the Community Mental Health Block Grant requires states to: identify outreach to older adults, individuals who are homeless, and individuals living in rural communities; and how community-based behavioral health services plan to provide services to these targeted populations.

Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2011 (S. 539), introduced on March 10, 2011, would expand the eligibility for health information technology (HIT) assistance through the HITECH Act to include behavioral health professionals and facilities (i.e., community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals). The goal of the bill is to improve integration of behavioral health and primary care through the adoption of HIT.

Achievement through Prevention Act (S. 541) was proposed on March 10, 2011 to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to promote positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and early intervention services (EIS) for school personnel. The legislation focuses on improving coordination and services outlined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 1381/S. 2020) was introduced on April 6, 2011 (House) and on December 16, 2011 (Senate). The Act protects students from hazardous seclusion and restraint practices in schools by prohibiting its use unless a student poses imminent risk to him/herself. The legislation prohibits seclusion in locked and unattended rooms, promotes training for school personnel to reduce the use of restraints (e.g., positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), and requires parents/guardians to be notified after a student has been restrained or secluded).

Mental Health in Schools Act of 2011 (H.R. 751) was introduced to amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and violence that would provide access to school or community-based comprehensive mental health programs.  Awarded grantees must demonstrate that the program includes training for school personnel, family members and guardians of children with behavioral health conditions, and concerned community members; and how grantees will sustain the program after the funding terminates.   

Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act (H.R. 1833) is legislation that provides grant opportunities to higher education institutions for behavioral health services and outreach on college campuses. The funding would assist campuses in expanding their behavioral health services by developing comprehensive services and providing mental health training.  

Successful, Safe and Healthy Students Act (S. 919) was introduced on May 9, 2011 to assist states' educational systems in initiating programs and services that foster positive learning in public schools to promote students' physical and mental health and well-being and to provide a safe learning haven measured by: promotion of physical activity, education, fitness and nutrition; promotion of mental health; prevention of violence (e.g., bullying), harassment and substance abuse; and promotion of safe and supportive schools and communities.

Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2011 (S. 740) renews and expands provisions under the current Act by increasing funding to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, expanding suicide prevention programs to all populations, and revising campus suicide prevention programs at higher education institutions that focus on services for students with mental health and addiction disorders. In addition, it requires future grantees to enhance suicide prevention services and develop best practices strategies for the suicide prevention field.

Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (S. 1963) was introduced on October 28, 2009 and signed into law (P.L.111-163) on May 5, 2010. Provisions include: support for caregivers of veterans, such as training, counseling, supportive services and living stipends; expansion of services for women veterans; improvement of services to rural veterans by recruiting and retaining high quality healthcare providers, providing travel reimbursement to veterans receiving treatment at VA facilities, and expanding the VA's telehealth program; improvement of mental health care by providing readjustment counseling and a study on veteran suicides; and improving and increasing services for homeless veterans.