Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature proposes $10 million increase for Mental Health Wellness Act, $5 million for youth substance-use services
Summary
At the inaugural meeting of the Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission on Juneteenth, Committee Chair Mark Bontrager said the state legislature’s proposed budget includes a $10,000,000 increase for the Mental Health Wellness Act grant program, with $5,000,000 of that increase specifically allocated to youth-focused substance use disorder services.
At the inaugural meeting of the Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission on Juneteenth, Committee Chair Mark Bontrager said the state legislature’s proposed budget includes a $10,000,000 increase for the Mental Health Wellness Act grant program, with $5,000,000 of that increase specifically allocated to youth-focused substance use disorder services.
The announcement is part of the committee’s opening remarks and reflects staff and legislative attention to behavioral health funding, Bontrager said. He added that the legislature’s negotiations with the administration are ongoing and that the commission and its partners remain “hopeful.”
Why it matters: the Mental Health Wellness Act grant program funds community behavioral-health services; a dedicated allocation for youth substance use disorder services signals a targeted investment in adolescent and transitional-age behavioral-health needs. The committee noted the increase aligns with priorities it has advocated for in past work but cautioned the amount is part of the legislature’s proposal, not a finalized appropriation.
Additional context offered at the meeting: commissioners and staff reminded attendees that the budget remains subject to negotiation and approval through the legislative process and the administration. The committee’s announcements also highlighted several upcoming committee activities tied to budget and grant work, including a Budget Committee meeting scheduled for July 17 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and other program-committee planning related to the Innovation Partnership Fund.
No formal action was taken on the budget at this meeting; staff and commissioners framed the disclosure as an update and a point for future committee and commission attention as the budget moves through state processes.
The commission encouraged stakeholders to follow committee postings and to submit questions or comments through the commission’s channels as negotiations continue.
