Statutory and Regulatory Authorities

Laws and Regulations Affecting Conduct of Business by the  Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

The Children's Health Act of 2000: 
A Summary

Senate Sponsors: Senators Frist, Jeffords, and Kennedy
House Sponsors: Representatives Bliley, Bilirakis, Dingell, and S. Brown

Division B - Youth Drug and Mental Health Services

Reauthorizes programs within the jurisdiction of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to improve mental health and substance abuse services for children and adolescents, to implement proposals giving States more flexibility in the use of block grant funds with accountability based on performance, and to consolidate discretionary grant authorities to give the Secretary more flexibility to respond to the needs of those who need mental health and substance abuse services. Provides a waiver from the requirements of the Narcotic Addict Treatment Act would permit qualified physicians to dispense (including prescribe) schedule III, IV, or V narcotic drugs or combinations of such drugs approved by FDA for the treatment of heroin addiction. Provides a comprehensive strategy to combat Methamphetamine use.

Title XXXI - Provisions Relating to Services for Children and Adolescents

Authorizes $100 million for the Secretary to make grants to public entities in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to assist local communities in developing ways to assist children in dealing with violence. The authority is written to our Safe Schools/Healthy Students program.

Authorizes $50 million for the Secretary to develop knowledge with regard to evidence-based practices for treating psychiatric disorders resulting from witnessing or experiencing domestic, school and community violence and terrorism.

Permits the Secretary to use up to 2.5% of the funds appropriated for discretionary grants for responding to emergencies. The authority would permit an objective review instead of peer review. This would permit an expedited process for making awards. The Secretary is required to define an emergency in the Federal Register subject to public comment.

The section also includes language that provides additional confidentiality protection for the information collected from individuals who participate in national surveys conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Authorizes $40 million for the Secretary to make grants, contracts or cooperative agreement to public and non-profit private entities including American Indian tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose of providing substance abuse treatment services for children and adolescents.

Also, authorizes $20 million for the Secretary to make grants, contracts or cooperative agreements to public and non-profit private entities including local educational agencies for the purposes of providing early intervention substance abuse services for children and adolescents.

Authorizes $4 million to create centers of excellence to assist States and local jurisdictions in providing appropriate care for adolescents who are involved with the juvenile justice system and have a serious emotional disturbance.

Authorizes $10 million for the Secretary to make grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to carry out school based as well as community based programs to prevent the use of methamphetamine and inhalants.

Section 3106 - Services for Children of Substance Abusers

Transfers, for better coordination, this program from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to SAMHSA and authorizes $50 million for the Secretary to make grants to public and non-profit private entities to provide the following services to children of substance abusers: periodic evaluations, primary pediatric care, other health and mental health services, therapeutic interventions, preventive counseling, counseling related to witnessing of chronic violence, referrals for and assistance in establishing eligibility for services under other programs, and other developmental services. Grantees would also provide services to families where one or both of the parents are substance abusers. The program requires that grantees match Federal funds with funds from other sources.

Authorizes $25 million for the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements or contracts with public or nonprofit private entities including Indian tribes and tribal organizations to provide services to individuals diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol related birth defects. The funds can be used for screening and testing; mental health, health or substance abuse services; vocational services; housing assistance; and parenting skills.

Authorizes $5 million for the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements or contracts to public or nonprofit private entities for the purposes of establishing not more than 4 centers of excellence to study techniques for the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol related birth defects and adaptations of innovative clinical interventions and service delivery improvements.

Section 3111 - Suicide Prevention