A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FACILITY‑BASED CRISIS CENTERS, STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PILOT PROGRAM, AND CONTINUATION OF THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC MOBILE CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the following amounts:
(1)	The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year, to be used to award grants on a competitive basis for the establishment of up to two new facility‑based crisis centers in the State for children and adolescents.
(2)	The sum of six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year, to be used for statewide expansion of the community paramedicine pilot program authorized by Section 12A.12 of Session Law 2016‑94, for the purpose of expanding the role of paramedics to allow for community‑based initiatives that result in providing care that avoids nonemergency use of emergency rooms and 911 services and avoids unnecessary admissions into health care facilities. The Department shall determine the additional program site locations in a manner that ensures distribution across the State in all catchment areas and according to the greatest need based on hospital emergency room utilization data. Additional program sites must adhere to the education standards and other eligibility requirements established by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services for participation by community paramedics.
(3)	The sum of two hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($225,000) for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year, to be used to continue the 13 community paramedic mobile crisis management program sites authorized by Section 12F.8 of Session Law 2016‑94, to divert behavioral health consumers from emergency departments.
SECTION 1.(b)  By April 2, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division on all of the following:
(1)	The number and amount of any competitive grants awarded by the Department for the establishment of new facility‑based crisis centers in the State for children and adolescents, the identity of the grantees, and the criteria used to evaluate and select grantees.
(2)	The progress of statewide expansion of the community paramedicine pilot program authorized by Section 12A.12 of Session Law 2016‑94 and any savings associated with statewide expansion of this program, broken down by program site.
(3)	Any savings associated with continuation of the 13 community paramedic mobile crisis management programs authorized by Section 12F.8 of Session Law 2016‑94, broken down by program.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017.