text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Act of 2013''.
  
  SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.
  
      Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) 
  is amended to read as follows:
  
  ``SEC. 520J. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.
  
      ``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, 
  shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian 
  tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private entities to 
  initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs.
      ``(b) Program Requirements.--
              ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for funding under 
          subsection (a), a mental health first aid training program 
          shall--
                      ``(A) be designed to train individuals in the 
                  categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish the 
                  objectives described in paragraph (3);
                      ``(B) ensure that training is conducted by trainers 
                  that are properly licensed and credentialed by 
                  nonprofit entities as designated by the Secretary; and
                      ``(C) include--
                              ``(i) at a minimum--
                                      ``(I) a core live training course 
                                  for individuals in the categories 
                                  listed in paragraph (2) on the skills, 
                                  resources, and knowledge to assist 
                                  individuals in crisis to connect with 
                                  appropriate local mental health care 
                                  services;
                                      ``(II) training on mental health 
                                  resources, including the location of 
                                  community mental health centers 
                                  described in section 1913(c), in the 
                                  State and local community; and
                                      ``(III) training on action plans 
                                  and protocols for referral to such 
                                  resources; and
                              ``(ii) where feasible, continuing education 
                          and updated training for individuals in the 
                          categories listed in paragraph (2).
              ``(2) Categories of individuals to be trained.--The 
          categories of individuals listed in this paragraph are the 
          following:
                      ``(A) Emergency services personnel and other first 
                  responders.
                      ``(B) Police officers and other law enforcement 
                  personnel.
                      ``(C) Teachers and school administrators.
                      ``(D) Human resources professionals.
                      ``(E) Faith community leaders.
                      ``(F) Nurses and other primary care personnel.
                      ``(G) Students enrolled in an elementary school, a 
                  secondary school, or an institution of higher 
                  education.
                      ``(H) The parents of students described in 
                  subparagraph (G).
                      ``(I) Veterans.
                      ``(J) Other individuals, audiences or training 
                  populations as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
              ``(3) Objectives of training.--To be eligible for funding 
          under subsection (a), a mental health first aid training 
          program shall be designed to train individuals in the 
          categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish each of the 
          following objectives (as appropriate for the individuals to be 
          trained, taking into consideration their age):
                      ``(A) Safe de-escalation of crisis situations.
                      ``(B) Recognition of the signs and symptoms of 
                  mental illness, including such common psychiatric 
                  conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major 
                  clinical depression, and anxiety disorders.
                      ``(C) Timely referral to mental health services in 
                  the early stages of developing mental disorders in 
                  order to--
                              ``(i) avoid more costly subsequent 
                          behavioral health care; and
                              ``(ii) enhance the effectiveness of mental 
                          health services.
      ``(c) Distribution of Awards.--In awarding grants under this 
  section, the Secretary shall--
              ``(1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among 
          the geographical regions of the United States; and
              ``(2) pay particular attention to the mental health 
          training needs of populations and target audiences residing in 
          rural areas.
      ``(d) Application.--A State, political subdivision of a State, 
  Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that 
  desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
  Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
  as the Secretary may require, including a plan for the rigorous 
  evaluation of activities that are carried out with funds received under 
  such grant.
      ``(e) Evaluation.--A State, political subdivision of a State, 
  Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that 
  receives a grant under this section shall prepare and submit an 
  evaluation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
  containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, 
  including an evaluation of activities carried out with funds received 
  under such grant and a process and outcome evaluation.
      ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
  there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 
  2014 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2015 
  and 2016.''.
target: Mental Health First Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to award grants to initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs. Requires such a program to include: (1) core live training courses on the skills, resources, and knowledge necessary to assist individuals in crisis to connect with appropriate local mental health care services; (2) training on mental health resources, including the location of community mental health centers in the state and local community; and (3) training on action plans and protocols for referral to such resources. Sets forth the categories of individuals to be trained under the program, including emergency services personnel and other first responders, police officers and law enforcement personnel, teachers and school administrators, human resources professionals, faith community leaders, nurses and other primary care personnel, students enrolled in school, parents of students, veterans, and other individuals, audiences or training populations as appropriate. Requires such programs to train individuals to accomplish: (1) safe de-escalation of crisis situations, (2) recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and (3) timely referral to mental health services in the early stages of developing mental disorders. Requires the Secretary, in awarding grants, to: (1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States, and (2) pay particular attention to the mental health training needs of populations and target audiences residing in rural areas. 
feat_title: Mental Health First Act of 2013