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HR 1197 102th Congress House Health Community health services Exceptional children Federal aid to child health services Mental health planning Mental health services Problem children

Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1991

Introduced: February 28, 1991 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 11, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Feb 28, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 28, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1991 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace a subpart relating to State comprehensive mental health services plans with a subpart relating to comprehensive mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbance.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make grants to States for comprehensive community mental health services to children with serious emotional disturbance. Prohibits the Secretary from making a grant to a State unless the State is receiving payments under alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grant provisions. Requires non-Federal contributions in a specified ratio.

Requires State grantees to: (1) establish and operate one or more systems, through grants or contracts, to provide specified types of mental health services to children under 22 years of age; (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with providers of medical, educational, vocational counseling and vocational rehabilitation, and protection and advocacy services to facilitate the provision of such services without use of grant funds or non-Federal contributions made with respect to the grant; (3) provide case management services; (4) provide services in the language and cultural context that is most appropriate for the child involved; and (5) develop and implement an individualized plan of services for each child admitted to the system.

Describes additional services for which a State system may provide.

Prohibits the Secretary from making a grant to a State unless the State has a plan, approved by the Secretary, for the development of a State-wide system of care for community-based services for children with serious emotional disturbance.

Requires that parents of children with serious emotional disturbances be included as members of the mental health planning council established under existing provisions.

Requires that, if a charge is imposed for services under a grant, the charge be made according to a public schedule, adjusted to reflect the income of the family of the child, and not imposed on any child whose family has income and resources at or below the poverty line.

Limits grants to States to five years. Allows a State system established under a grant to receive grant funds for three years.

Directs the Secretary to provide to a State, on request: (1) technical assistance regarding grant applications; and (2) training and technical assistance on the planning, development, and operation of the systems under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide the technical assistance directly or through grants or contracts.

Authorizes appropriations, earmarking a specified sum for the technical assistance and training. Limits the number of grants to ten in FY 1992.

What's happening now March 11, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1197: Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1197/
MLA
"H.R. 1197: Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1197/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1197, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1197/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1197: Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1197/)
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