Division FF — Health and Human Services

“SEC. 520F. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.

“(a) In General.—The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary will award competitive grants to States, localities, territories, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations to establish new, or enhance existing, mobile crisis response teams that divert the response for mental health and substance use disorder crises from law enforcement to mobile crisis teams, as described in subsection (b).

“(b) Mobile Crisis Teams Described.—A mobile crisis team, for purposes of this section, is a team of individuals—

“(1) that is available to respond to individuals in mental health and substance use disorder crises and provide immediate stabilization, referrals to community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and supports, and triage to a higher level of care if medically necessary;

“(2) which may include licensed counselors, clinical social workers, physicians, paramedics, crisis workers, peer support specialists, or other qualified individuals; and

“(3) which may provide support to divert mental health and substance use disorder crisis calls from the 9–1–1 system to the 9–8–8 system.

“(c) Priority.—In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize applications which account for the specific needs of the communities to be served, including children and families, veterans, rural and underserved populations, and other groups at increased risk of death from suicide or overdose.

“(d) Report.—

“(1) Initial report.—Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on steps taken by States, localities, territories, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations prior to the date of enactment of this section to strengthen the partnerships among mental health providers, substance use disorder treatment providers, primary care physicians, mental health and substance use disorder crisis teams, paramedics, law enforcement officers, and other first responders.

“(2) Progress reports.—Not later than one year after the date on which the first grant is awarded to carry out this section, and for each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the grants made during the year covered by the report, which shall include—

“(A) impact data on the teams and people served by such programs, including demographic information of individuals served, volume, and types of service utilization;

“(B) outcomes of the number of linkages made to community-based resources or short-term crisis receiving and stabilization facilities, as applicable, and diversion from law enforcement or hospital emergency department settings;

“(C) data consistent with the State block grant requirements for continuous evaluation and quality improvement, and other relevant data as determined by the Secretary;

“(D) identification and, where appropriate, recommendations of best practices from States and localities providing mobile crisis response and stabilization services for youth and adults; and

“(E) identification of any opportunities for improvements to the program established under this section.

“(e) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.”

“(d) Crisis Care.—

“(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), a State shall expend at least 5 percent of the amount the State receives pursuant to section 1911 for each fiscal year to support evidenced-based programs that address the crisis care needs of individuals with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, which may include individuals (including children and adolescents) experiencing mental health crises demonstrating serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, as applicable.

“(2) Core elements.—At the discretion of the single State agency responsible for the administration of the program of the State under a grant under section 1911, funds expended pursuant to paragraph (1) may be used to fund some or all of the core crisis care service components, as applicable and appropriate, including the following:

“(A) Crisis call centers.

“(B) 24/7 mobile crisis services.

“(C) Crisis stabilization programs offering acute care or subacute care in a hospital or appropriately licensed facility, as determined by such State, with referrals to inpatient or outpatient care.

“(3) State flexibility.—In lieu of expending 5 percent of the amount the State receives pursuant to section 1911 for a fiscal year to support evidence-based programs as required by paragraph (1), a State may elect to expend not less than 10 percent of such amount to support such programs by the end of two consecutive fiscal years.

“(4) Rule of construction.—Section 1912(b)(1)(A)(vi) shall not be construed as limiting the provision of crisis care services pursuant to paragraph (1).”

“(a) Definitions.—For purposes of this section:

“(1) The term ‘alcohol beverage industry’ means the brewers, vintners, distillers, importers, distributors, and retail or online outlets that sell or serve beer, wine, and distilled spirits.

“(2) The term ‘school-based prevention’ means programs, which are institutionalized, and run by staff members or school-designated persons or organizations in any grade of school, kindergarten through 12th grade.

“(3) The term ‘youth’ means persons under the age of 21.”

; and

“(c) Interagency Coordinating Committee; Annual Report on State Underage Drinking Prevention and Enforcement Activities.—

“(1) Interagency coordinating committee on the prevention of underage drinking.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary, in collaboration with the Federal officials specified in subparagraph (B), shall continue to support and enhance the efforts of the interagency coordinating committee, that began operating in 2004, focusing on underage drinking (referred to in this subsection as the ‘Committee’).

“(B) Other agencies.—The officials referred to in subparagraph (A) are the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Surgeon General, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and such other Federal officials as the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines to be appropriate.

“(C) Chair.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall serve as the chair of the Committee.

“(D) Duties.—The Committee shall guide policy and program development across the Federal Government with respect to underage drinking, provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed as transferring regulatory or program authority from an agency to the Committee.

“(E) Consultations.—The Committee shall actively seek the input of and shall consult with all appropriate and interested parties, including States, public health research and interest groups, foundations, and alcohol beverage industry trade associations and companies.

“(F) Annual report.—

“(i) In general.—The Secretary, on behalf of the Committee, shall annually submit to the Congress a report that summarizes—

“(I) all programs and policies of Federal agencies designed to prevent and reduce underage drinking, including such programs and policies that support State efforts to prevent or reduce underage drinking;

“(II) the extent of progress in preventing and reducing underage drinking at State and national levels;

“(III) data that the Secretary shall collect with respect to the information specified in clause (ii); and

“(IV) such other information regarding underage drinking as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

“(ii) Certain information.—The report under clause (i) shall include information on the following:

“(I) Patterns and consequences of underage drinking as reported in research and surveys such as, but not limited to, Monitoring the Future, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

“(II) Measures of the availability of alcohol from commercial and non-commercial sources to underage populations.

“(III) Measures of the exposure of underage populations to messages regarding alcohol in advertising, social media, and the entertainment media.

“(IV) Surveillance data, including, to the extent such information is available, information on the onset and prevalence of underage drinking, consumption patterns and beverage preferences, trends related to drinking among different age groups, including between youth and adults, the means of underage access, including trends over time, for these surveillance data, and other data, as appropriate. The Secretary shall develop a plan to improve the collection, measurement, and consistency of reporting Federal underage alcohol data.

“(V) Any additional findings resulting from research conducted or supported under subsection (g).

“(VI) Evidence-based best practices to prevent and reduce underage drinking and provide treatment services to those youth who need such services.

“(2) Annual report on state underage drinking prevention and enforcement activities.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall, with input and collaboration from other appropriate Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, territories, and public health, consumer, and alcohol beverage industry groups, annually issue a report on each State’s performance in enacting, enforcing, and creating laws, regulations, programs, and other actions to prevent or reduce underage drinking based on the best practices identified pursuant to paragraph (1)(F)(ii)(VI). For purposes of this paragraph, each such report, with respect to a year, shall be referred to as the ‘State Report’. Each State Report may be used as a resource to inform the identification and implementation of activities to prevent underage drinking, as determined to be appropriate by such State or other applicable entity.

“(B) Contents.—

“(i) Performance measures.—The Secretary shall develop, in consultation with the Committee, a set of measures to be used in preparing the State Report on best practices, including as they relate to State laws, regulations, other actions, and enforcement practices.

“(ii) State report content.—The State Report shall include updates on State laws, regulations, and other actions, including those described in previous reports to Congress, including with respect to the following:

“(I) Whether or not the State has comprehensive anti-underage drinking laws such as for the illegal sale, purchase, attempt to purchase, consumption, or possession of alcohol; illegal use of fraudulent ID; illegal furnishing or obtaining of alcohol for an individual under 21 years; the degree of strictness of the penalties for such offenses; and the prevalence of the enforcement of each of these infractions.

“(II) Whether or not the State has comprehensive liability statutes pertaining to underage access to alcohol such as dram shop, social host, and house party laws, and the prevalence of enforcement of each of these laws.

“(III) Whether or not the State encourages and conducts comprehensive enforcement efforts to prevent underage access to alcohol at retail outlets, such as random compliance checks and shoulder tap programs, and the number of compliance checks within alcohol retail outlets measured against the number of total alcohol retail outlets in each State, and the result of such checks.

“(IV) Whether or not the State encourages training on the proper selling and serving of alcohol for all sellers and servers of alcohol as a condition of employment.

“(V) Whether or not the State has policies and regulations with regard to direct sales to consumers and home delivery of alcoholic beverages.

“(VI) Whether or not the State has programs or laws to deter adults from purchasing alcohol for minors; and the number of adults targeted by these programs.

“(VII) Whether or not the State has enacted graduated drivers licenses and the extent of those provisions.

“(VIII) Whether or not the State has adopted any other policies consistent with evidence-based practices related to the prevention of underage alcohol use, which may include any such practices described in relevant reports issued by the Surgeon General and practices related to youth exposure to alcohol-related products and information.

“(IX) A description of the degree to which the practices of local jurisdictions within the State vary from one another.

“(3) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

“(d) National Media Campaign To Prevent Underage Drinking.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary, in consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall develop or continue an intensive, multifaceted national media campaign aimed at adults to reduce underage drinking.

“(2) Purpose.—The purpose of the national media campaign described in this section shall be to achieve the following objectives:

“(A) Promote community awareness of, and a commitment to, reducing underage drinking.

“(B) Encourage activities, including activities carried out by adults, that inhibit the illegal use of alcohol by youth.

“(C) Discourage activities, including activities carried out by adults, that promote the illegal use of alcohol by youth.

“(3) Components.—When implementing the national media campaign described in this section, the Secretary shall—

“(A) educate the public about the public health and safety benefits of evidence-based strategies to reduce underage drinking, including existing laws related to the minimum legal drinking age, and engage the public and parents in the implementation of such strategies;

“(B) educate the public about the negative consequences of underage drinking;

“(C) identify specific actions by adults to discourage or inhibit underage drinking;

“(D) discourage adult conduct that tends to facilitate underage drinking;

“(E) establish collaborative relationships with local and national organizations and institutions to further the goals of the campaign and assure that the messages of the campaign are disseminated from a variety of sources;

“(F) conduct the campaign through multi-media sources; and

“(G) take into consideration demographics and other relevant factors to most effectively reach target audiences.

“(4) Consultation requirement.—In developing and implementing the national media campaign described in this section, the Secretary shall review recommendations for reducing underage drinking, including those published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Surgeon General. The Secretary shall also consult with interested parties including the alcohol beverage industry, medical, public health, and consumer and parent groups, law enforcement, institutions of higher education, community-based organizations and coalitions, and other relevant stakeholders.

“(5) Annual report.—The Secretary shall produce an annual report on the progress of the development or implementation of the media campaign described in this subsection, including expenses and projected costs, and, as such information is available, report on the effectiveness of such campaign in affecting adult attitudes toward underage drinking and adult willingness to take actions to decrease underage drinking.

“(6) Research on youth-oriented campaign.—The Secretary may, based on the availability of funds, conduct or support research on the potential success of a youth-oriented national media campaign to reduce underage drinking. The Secretary shall report to Congress any such results and any related recommendations.

“(7) Administration.—The Secretary may enter into an agreement with another Federal agency to delegate the authority for execution and administration of the adult-oriented national media campaign.

“(8) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

“(e) Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Grants To Prevent Underage Drinking.—

“(1) Authorization of program.—The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, in consultation with the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, shall award enhancement grants to eligible entities to design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate comprehensive strategies to maximize the effectiveness of community-wide approaches to preventing and reducing underage drinking. This subsection is subject to the availability of appropriations.

“(2) Purposes.—The purposes of this subsection are to—

“(A) prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth in communities throughout the United States;

“(B) strengthen collaboration among communities, the Federal Government, Tribal Governments, and State and local governments;

“(C) enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of alcohol use among youth;

“(D) serve as a catalyst for increased citizen participation and greater collaboration among all sectors and organizations of a community that first demonstrates a long-term commitment to reducing alcohol use among youth;

“(E) implement evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce underage drinking in communities; and

“(F) enhance, not supplant, effective local community initiatives for preventing and reducing alcohol use among youth.

“(3) Application.—An eligible entity desiring an enhancement grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, and in such manner, and accompanied by such information and assurances, as the Assistant Secretary may require. Each application shall include—

“(A) a complete description of the entity’s current underage alcohol use prevention initiatives and how the grant will appropriately enhance the focus on underage drinking issues; or

“(B) a complete description of the entity’s current initiatives, and how it will use the grant to enhance those initiatives by adding a focus on underage drinking prevention.

“(4) Uses of funds.—Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out the activities described in such entity’s application submitted pursuant to paragraph (3) and obtain specialized training and technical assistance by the entity funded under section 4 of Public Law 107–82, as amended (21 U.S.C. 1521 note). Grants under this subsection shall not exceed $60,000 per year and may not exceed four years.

“(5) Supplement not supplant.—Grant funds provided under this subsection shall be used to supplement, not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this subsection.

“(6) Evaluation.—Grants under this subsection shall be subject to the same evaluation requirements and procedures as the evaluation requirements and procedures imposed on recipients of drug-free community grants.

“(7) Definitions.—For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means an organization that is currently receiving or has received grant funds under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997.

“(8) Administrative expenses.—Not more than 6 percent of a grant under this subsection may be expended for administrative expenses.

“(9) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $11,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

“(f) Grants to Organizations Representing Pediatric Providers and Other Related Health Professionals To Reduce Underage Drinking Through Screening and Brief Interventions.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall make awards to one or more entities representing pediatric providers and other related health professionals with demonstrated ability to increase among the members of such entities effective practices to reduce the prevalence of alcohol use among individuals under the age of 21, including college students.

“(2) Purposes.—Grants under this subsection shall be made to improve—

“(A) screening adolescents for alcohol use;

“(B) offering brief interventions to adolescents to discourage such use;

“(C) educating parents about the dangers of and methods of discouraging such use;

“(D) diagnosing and treating alcohol use disorders; and

“(E) referring patients, when necessary, to other appropriate care.

“(3) Use of funds.—An entity receiving a grant under this section may use the grant funding to promote the practices specified in paragraph (2) among its members by—

“(A) providing training to health care providers;

“(B) disseminating best practices, including culturally and linguistically appropriate best practices, and developing and distributing materials; and

“(C) supporting other activities as determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.

“(4) Application.—To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, and in such manner, and accompanied by such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. Each application shall include—

“(A) a description of the entity;

“(B) a description of the activities to be completed that will promote the practices specified in paragraph (2);

“(C) a description of the entity’s qualifications for performing such activities; and

“(D) a timeline for the completion of such activities.

“(5) Definitions.—For the purpose of this subsection:

“(A) Brief intervention.—The term ‘brief intervention’ means, after screening a patient, providing the patient with brief advice and other brief motivational enhancement techniques designed to increase the insight of the patient regarding the patient’s alcohol use, and any realized or potential consequences of such use to effect the desired related behavioral change.

“(B) Screening.—The term ‘screening’ means using validated patient interview techniques to identify and assess the existence and extent of alcohol use in a patient.

“(6) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

“(g) Data Collection and Research.—

“(1) Additional research on underage drinking.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, support the collection of data, and conduct or support research that is not duplicative of research currently being conducted or supported by the Department of Health and Human Services, on underage drinking, with respect to the following:

“(i) The evaluation, which may include through the development of relevant capabilities of expertise within a State, of the effectiveness of comprehensive community-based programs or strategies and statewide systems to prevent and reduce underage drinking, across the underage years from early childhood to age 21, such as programs funded and implemented by governmental entities, public health interest groups and foundations, and alcohol beverage companies and trade associations.

“(ii) Obtaining and reporting more precise information than is currently collected on the scope of the underage drinking problem and patterns of underage alcohol consumption, including improved knowledge about the problem and progress in preventing, reducing, and treating underage drinking, as well as information on the rate of exposure of youth to advertising and other media messages encouraging and discouraging alcohol consumption.

“(iii) The development and identification of evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies to reduce underage drinking, which may include through translational research.

“(iv) Improving and conducting public health data collection on alcohol use and alcohol-related conditions in States, which may include by increasing the use of surveys, such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, to monitor binge and excessive drinking and related harms among individuals who are at least 18 years of age, but not more than 20 years of age, including harm caused to self or others as a result of alcohol use that is not duplicative of research currently being conducted or supported by the Department of Health and Human Services.

“(B) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

“(2) National academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine study.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, the Secretary shall—

“(i) contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study developments in research on underage drinking and the implications of these developments; and

“(ii) report to the Congress on the results of such review.

“(B) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $500,000 for fiscal year 2023.”

“(3) Limitations.—A State may—

“(A) use not more than 10 percent of a grant under this section for educating the public pursuant to subsection (a)(5); and

“(B) use not less than 20 percent of a grant under this section to offset cost-sharing for distribution and dispensing of drugs or devices approved, cleared, or otherwise legally marketed under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.”

“(26) collaborate with national accrediting entities, recovery housing providers, organizations or individuals with established expertise in delivery of recovery housing services, States, Federal agencies (including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the agencies listed in section 550(e)(2)(B)), and other relevant stakeholders, to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing and services for individuals with a substance use disorder.”

“(1) In general.—The Secretary, in consultation with the individuals and entities specified in paragraph (2), shall continue activities to identify, facilitate the development of, and periodically update consensus-based best practices, which may include model laws for implementing suggested minimum standards for operating, and promoting the availability of, high-quality recovery housing.”

“(3) Availability.—The best practices referred to in paragraph (1) shall be—

“(A) made publicly available; and

“(B) published on the public website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“(4) Exclusion of guideline on treatment services.—In facilitating the development of best practices under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not include any best practices with respect to substance use disorder treatment services.”

“(e) Coordination of Federal Activities To Promote the Availability of Housing for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Individuals With a Mental Illness, and Individuals With a Substance Use Disorder.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall convene an interagency working group for the following purposes:

“(A) To increase collaboration, cooperation, and consultation among the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal agencies listed in paragraph (2)(B), with respect to promoting the availability of housing, including high-quality recovery housing, for individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals with mental illnesses, and individuals with substance use disorder.

“(B) To align the efforts of such agencies and avoid duplication of such efforts by such agencies.

“(C) To develop objectives, priorities, and a long-term plan for supporting State, Tribal, and local efforts with respect to the operation of high-quality recovery housing that is consistent with the best practices developed under this section.

“(D) To improve information on the quality of recovery housing.

“(2) Composition.—The interagency working group under paragraph (1) shall be composed of—

“(A) the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who shall serve as the co-chairs; and

“(B) representatives of each of the following Federal agencies:

“(i) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

“(ii) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“(iii) The Health Resources and Services Administration.

“(iv) The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“(v) The Indian Health Service.

“(vi) The Department of Agriculture.

“(vii) The Department of Justice.

“(viii) The Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“(ix) The Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“(x) The Department of Labor.

“(xi) The Department of Veterans Affairs.

“(xii) Any other Federal agency as the co-chairs determine appropriate.

“(3) Meetings.—The working group shall meet on a quarterly basis.

“(4) Reports to congress.—Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the working group shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report describing the work of the working group and any recommendations of the working group to improve Federal, State, and local coordination with respect to recovery housing and other housing resources and operations for individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals with a mental illness, and individuals with a substance use disorder.”

“(vi) provides a description of—

“(I) the State’s comprehensive statewide recovery support services activities, including the number of individuals being served, target populations, workforce capacity (consistent with clause (viii)), and priority needs; and

“(II) the amount of funds received under this subpart expended on recovery support services, disaggregated by the amount expended for type of service activity;”

; and

“(2) Indian tribe or tribal organization as grantee.—The amount reserved by the Secretary on the basis of a determination under this subsection shall be granted to the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization serving the individuals for whom such a determination has been made.”

“(3) the amount provided to each recipient in the previous fiscal year.”

“(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a registrant that is dispensing pursuant to section 303(g) narcotic drugs to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment shall not be required to have a separate registration to incorporate one or more mobile medication units into the registrant’s practice to dispense such narcotics at locations other than the registrant’s principal place of business or professional practice described in paragraph (1), so long as the registrant meets such standards for operation of a mobile medication unit as the Attorney General may establish.”

“(l) Required Training for Prescribers.—

“(1) Training required.—As a condition on registration under this section to dispense controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V, the Attorney General shall require any qualified practitioner, beginning with the first applicable registration for the practitioner, to meet the following:

“(A) If the practitioner is a physician (as defined under section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act) and the practitioner meets one or more of the following conditions:

“(i) The physician holds a board certification in addiction psychiatry or addiction medicine from the American Board of Medical Specialties.

“(ii) The physician holds a board certification from the American Board of Addiction Medicine.

“(iii) The physician holds a board certification in addiction medicine from the American Osteopathic Association.

“(iv) The physician has, with respect to the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, or the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid or other substance use disorders, completed not less than 8 hours of training (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) that is provided by—

“(I) the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Dental Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Psychiatric Association, or any other organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition (CCEPR);

“(II) any organization accredited by a State medical society accreditor that is recognized by the ACCME or the CCEPR;

“(III) any organization accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide continuing medical education; or

“(IV) any organization approved by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the ACCME, or the CCEPR.

“(v) The physician graduated in good standing from an accredited school of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dental surgery, or dental medicine in the United States during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the physician first registers or renews under this section and has successfully completed a comprehensive allopathic or osteopathic medicine curriculum or accredited medical residency or dental surgery or dental medicine curriculum that included not less than 8 hours of training on—

“(I) treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder; or

“(II) the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.

“(B) If the practitioner is not a physician (as defined under section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act), the practitioner is legally authorized by the State to dispense controlled substances under schedule II, III, IV, or V and is dispensing such substances within such State in accordance with all applicable State laws, and the practitioner meets one or more of the following conditions:

“(i) The practitioner has completed not fewer than 8 hours of training with respect to the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) provided by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Physician Associates, or any other organization approved or accredited by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use or the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

“(ii) The practitioner has graduated in good standing from an accredited physician assistant school or accredited school of advanced practice nursing in the United States during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the practitioner first registers or renews under this section and has successfully completed a comprehensive physician assistant or advanced practice nursing curriculum that included not fewer than 8 hours of training on treating and managing patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder.

“(2) One-time training.—

“(A) In general.—The Attorney General shall not require any qualified practitioner to complete the training described in clause (iv) or (v) of paragraph (1)(A) or clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B) more than once.

“(B) Notification.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, the Attorney General shall provide to qualified practitioners a single written, electronic notification of the training described in clauses (iv) and (v) of paragraph (1)(A) or clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(B).

“(3) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed—

“(A) to preclude the use, by a qualified practitioner, of training received pursuant to this subsection to satisfy registration requirements of a State or for some other lawful purpose; or

“(B) to preempt any additional requirements by a State related to the dispensing of controlled substances under schedule II, III, IV, or V.

“(4) Definitions.—In this section:

“(A) First applicable registration.—The term ‘first applicable registration’ means the first registration or renewal of registration by a qualified practitioner under this section that occurs on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022.

“(B) Qualified practitioner.—In this subsection, the term ‘qualified practitioner’ means a practitioner who—

“(i) is licensed under State law to prescribe controlled substances; and

“(ii) is not solely a veterinarian.”

The Secretary shall update such campaign to address emerging drug misuse issues, as appropriate.

“(3) Parity implementation.—

“(A) In general.—Beginning during the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall, out of funds made available pursuant to subparagraph (C), award grants to eligible States to enforce and ensure compliance with the mental health and substance use disorder parity provisions of section 2726.

“(B) Eligible state.—A State shall be eligible for a grant awarded under this paragraph only if such State—

“(i) submits to the Secretary an application for such grant at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as specified by the Secretary; and

“(ii) agrees to request and review from health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage the comparative analyses and other information required of such health insurance issuers under subsection (a)(8)(A) of section 2726 relating to the design and application of nonquantitative treatment limitations imposed on mental health or substance use disorder benefits.

“(C) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the first five fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, to remain available until expended, for purposes of awarding grants under subparagraph (A).”

“(l) Technical Assistance.—The Secretary shall provide technical assistance by grants or contracts awarded to private, nonprofit entities with demonstrated expertise related to school-based health centers. Such technical assistance, taking into account local and regional differences among school based health centers, shall support such entities in providing services described in subsection (a)(1) pursuant to this section, including mental health and substance use disorder services, and may include technical assistance relating to program operations and support for the implementation of evidence-based or evidence-informed best practices related to the provision of high quality health care services to children and adolescents.”

“(f) Technical Assistance.—The Secretary may, directly or by awarding grants or contracts to public and private nonprofit entities, provide training and technical assistance to eligible entities to carry out activities described in subsection (d).”

; and

“(B) a public organization or private nonprofit organization designated by a State or Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) to develop or direct the State-sponsored statewide or Tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy; or”

“SEC. 305. APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

“(a) In General.—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this section as the ‘CDC’) shall be headed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this section as the ‘Director’), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such individual shall also serve as the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry consistent with section 104(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Director shall perform functions provided for in subsection (b) and such other functions as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(b) Functions.—The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall—

“(1) implement and exercise applicable authorities and responsibilities provided for in this Act or other applicable law related to the investigation, detection, identification, prevention, or control of diseases or conditions to preserve and improve public health domestically and globally and address injuries and occupational and environmental hazards, as appropriate;

“(2) be responsible for the overall direction of the CDC and for the establishment and implementation of policies related to the management and operation of programs and activities within the CDC;

“(3) coordinate and oversee the operation of centers, institutes, and offices within the CDC;

“(4) support, in consultation with the heads of such centers, institutes, and offices, program coordination across such centers, institutes, and offices, including through priority setting reviews and the development of strategic plans, to reduce unnecessary duplication and encourage collaboration between programs;

“(5) oversee the development, implementation, and updating of the strategic plan established pursuant to subsection (c);

“(6) ensure that appropriate strategic planning, including the use of performance metrics, is conducted by such centers, institutes, and offices to facilitate and improve CDC programs and activities;

“(7) communicate, including through convening annual meetings, with public and private entities regarding relevant public health programs and activities, and, as applicable, the strategic plan established pursuant to subsection (c).

“(c) Strategic Plan.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, and at least every 4 years thereafter, the Director shall develop and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and post on the website of the CDC, a coordinated strategy to provide strategic direction and facilitate collaboration across the centers, institutes, and offices within the CDC. Such strategy shall be known as the ‘CDC Strategic Plan’.

“(2) Requirements.—The CDC Strategic Plan shall—

“(A) identify strategic priorities and objectives related to—

“(i) preventing, reducing, and eliminating the spread of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or conditions, and addressing injuries, and occupational and environmental hazards;

“(ii) supporting the efforts of State, local, and Tribal health departments to prevent and reduce the prevalence of the diseases or conditions under clause (i);

“(iii) containing, mitigating, and ending disease outbreaks;

“(iv) enhancing global and domestic public health capacity, capabilities, and preparedness, including public health data, surveillance, workforce, and laboratory capacity and safety; and

“(v) other priorities, as established by the Director;

“(B) describe the capacity and capabilities necessary to achieve the priorities and objectives under subparagraph (A), and progress towards achieving such capacity and capabilities, as appropriate; and

“(C) include a description of how the CDC Strategic Plan incorporates—

“(i) strategic communications;

“(ii) partnerships with private sector entities, and State, local, and Tribal health departments, and other public sector entities, as appropriate; and

“(iii) coordination with other agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate.

“(3) Use of plans.—Strategic plans developed and updated by the centers, institutes, and offices of the CDC shall be prepared regularly and in such a manner that such plans will be informed by the CDC Strategic Plan developed and updated under this subsection.

“(d) Appearances Before Congress.—

“(1) In general.—Each fiscal year, the Director shall appear before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives at hearings on topics such as—

“(A) support for State, local, and Tribal public health preparedness and responses to any recent or ongoing public health emergency, including—

“(i) any objectives, activities, or initiatives that have been carried out, or are planned, by the Director to prepare for, or respond to, the public health emergency, including relevant strategic communications or partnerships and any gaps or challenges identified in such objectives, activities, or initiatives;

“(ii) any objectives and planned activities for the upcoming fiscal year to address gaps in, or otherwise improve, State, local, and Tribal public health preparedness; and

“(iii) other potential all-hazard threats that the Director is preparing to address;

“(B) activities related to public health and functions of the Director described in subsection (b); and

“(C) updates on other relevant activities supported or conducted by the CDC, or in collaboration or coordination with the heads of other Federal departments, agencies, or stakeholders, as appropriate.

“(2) Clarifications.—

“(A) Waiver authority.—The Chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate or the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) for the applicable fiscal year with respect to the applicable Committee.

“(B) Scope of requirements.—The requirements of this subsection shall not be construed to impact the appearance of other Federal officials or the Director at hearings of either Committee described in paragraph (1) at other times and for purposes other than the times and purposes described in paragraph (1).

“(3) Closed hearings.—Information that is not appropriate for disclosure during an open hearing under paragraph (1) in order to protect national security may instead be discussed in a closed hearing that immediately follows the open hearing.

“(e) Other Transactions.—

“(1) In general.—In carrying out activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director may enter into transactions other than a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement for purposes of infectious disease research, biosurveillance, infectious disease modeling, and public health preparedness and response.

“(2) Written determination.—With respect to a project that is expected to cost the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than $40,000,000, the Director may exercise the authority under paragraph (1) only upon a written determination by the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources of the Department of Health and Human Services, that the use of such authority is essential to promoting the success of the project. The authority of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources under this paragraph may not be delegated.

“(3) Guidelines.—The Director, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish guidelines regarding the use of the authority under paragraph (1). Such guidelines shall include auditing requirements.”

“(g) Appearances Before Congress.—

“(1) In general.—Each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response shall appear before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives at hearings, on topics such as—

“(A) coordination of Federal activities to prepare for, and respond to, public health emergencies;

“(B) activities and capabilities of the Strategic National Stockpile, including whether, and the degree to which, recommendations made pursuant to section 2811–1(c)(1)(A) have been met;

“(C) support for State, local, and Tribal public health and medical preparedness;

“(D) activities implementing the countermeasures budget plan described under subsection (b)(7), including—

“(i) any challenges in meeting the full range of identified medical countermeasure needs; and

“(ii) progress in supporting advanced research, development, and procurement of medical countermeasures, pursuant to subsection (b)(3);

“(E) the strategic direction of, and activities related to, the sustainment of manufacturing surge capacity and capabilities for medical countermeasures pursuant to section 319L and the distribution and deployment of such countermeasures;

“(F) any additional objectives, activities, or initiatives that have been carried out or are planned by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and associated challenges, as appropriate;

“(G) the specific all-hazards threats that the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is preparing to address, or that are being addressed, through the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F); and

“(H) objectives, activities, or initiatives related to the coordination and consultation required under subsections (b)(4)(H) and (b)(4)(I), in a manner consistent with paragraph (3), as appropriate.

“(2) Clarifications.—

“(A) Waiver authority.—The Chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate or the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) for the applicable fiscal year with respect to the applicable Committee.

“(B) Scope of requirements.—The requirements of this subsection shall not be construed to impact the appearance of other Federal officials or the Assistant Secretary at hearings of either Committee described in paragraph (1) at other times and for purposes other than the times and purposes described in paragraph (1)

“(3) Closed hearings.—Information that is not appropriate for disclosure during an open hearing under paragraph (1) in order to protect national security may instead be discussed in a closed hearing that immediately follows such open hearing.”

“(d) Annual Report on Emergency Response and Preparedness.—The Secretary shall submit a written report each fiscal year to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, containing—

“(1) updated information related to an assessment of the response to any public health emergency declared, or otherwise in effect, during the previous fiscal year;

“(2) findings related to drills and operational exercises completed in the previous fiscal year pursuant to section 2811(b)(4)(G);

“(3) the state of public health preparedness and response capabilities for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, including emerging infectious diseases; and

“(4) any challenges in preparing for or responding to such threats, as appropriate.”