Grant program

(a) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General is authorized establish a grant program to make grants to States and units of local government to implement and administer mental health screenings to corrections officers at eligible detention centers and refer such individuals to mental health care providers, as applicable. (b) Application An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including— (1) a description of and a plan for the project under subsection (d) that the entity will carry out; and (2) an assurance that the entity will hire a mental health liaison staff member to coordinate among eligible detention centers, mental health providers, the Advisory Board, and the outreach team. (c) Eligible projects A grant under this section may only be used for the following: (1) To develop and administer a brief mental health screening survey as required under subsection (d). (2) To develop any technology necessary for an eligible detention center to provide the survey under paragraph (1). (3) To hire any staff necessary for an eligible detention center to provide the survey under paragraph (1). (4) To establish an outreach team pursuant to subsection (e) to refer a correctional officer, if their responses to the survey indicate severe mental illness, to a local mental health care provider for further assessment and outreach, admission (when necessary), and support for that officer in re-establishing ties with a mental health provider. (5) To pay the salary or overtime pay of an outreach team as established pursuant to subsection (e), including providing direct funding to an eligible detention center to compensate staff members. (d) Brief mental health screening survey A mental health screening survey developed and administered pursuant to a grant under this section shall— (1) be composed of 5 to 10 questions; (2) be based on the questions and content of the Employee Assistance Program standard mental health screening or the Bureau of Prisons initial mental health screening standard; (3) seek to identify severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression; (4) ask individuals about the symptoms of severe mental illness they may be experiencing or have experienced and any prior use of mental health-related medications or inpatient care; (5) identify the individual’s place of residence; (6) be administered by a trained staff member at the eligible detention center to all corrections officers; and (7) be anonymous and confidential. (e) Outreach team (1) In general A referral to a mental health care provider made pursuant to subsection (d) shall be made by a mental health outreach team that is composed of— (A) mental health care professionals and clinicians from mental health care centers local to the eligible detention center; (B) staff from the eligible detention center, when applicable; and (C) a mental health liaison staff member who shall oversee the outreach team. (2) Alert If an individual has been determined to need a referral to a mental health care provider, the mental health outreach team shall be notified immediately by eligible detention center staff and informed, when applicable.