A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE trust fund for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and bridge funding needs FOR ONETIME EXPENDITURES BY AREA AND COUNTY PROGRAMS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to The Trust Fund for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and Bridge Funding Needs the sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to area and county programs to provide bridge funding to maintain appropriate services to clients during the mental health reform process to address onetime needs of area and county programs related to system reform and program consolidation, and to support mental health reform through increasing access to appropriate prevention and treatment services in the community.  These services may include, but are not limited to: crisis services, intensive outpatient services, supported employment, supported housing, case management, and community support. Priority shall be given to building community crisis services capacity for children and adults and to services that address the mental health and substance abuse needs of children and adolescents.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.