Legislative Services

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was signed into law on June 25. The law seeks to broadly increase access to mental health care through the expansion of the Demonstration Program for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which provides support for crisis services. In addition, the BSCA provides $750 million in additional funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program over five years to states that can be used for crisis intervention and $250 million to increase access to mental health care through Community Mental Health Services block grants. The BSCA also supports the implementation of the new 988 mental health hotline by providing an additional $150 million to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has provided a detailed overview of the major provisions of the bill important for counties.

For more information about this article, please contact Megan Molleur at (800) 456-5974.