PRINTER'S NO. 655
No. 604 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, KITCHEN, FERLO, FONTANA, WASHINGTON, COSTA,
MADIGAN, MUSTO, ERICKSON AND RAFFERTY, MARCH 20, 2007
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 20, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for grant
4 program for empowerment of mental health clients and family
5 members.
6 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
7 (1) Persons with mental disabilities and their family
8 members make significant contributions to the development of
9 a high-quality and cohesive mental health system in this
10 Commonwealth.
11 (2) The delivery of appropriate mental health services
12 and supports to persons with mental disabilities is improved
13 by the involvement of clients and family members in the
14 development of treatment and service plans.
15 (3) The effectiveness of mental health treatment and
16 services is enhanced when clients and family members are
17 afforded choices about methods of delivery.
18 (4) The participation of clients and family members in
19 the mental health system is improved through peer supports.
1 (5) Access to information is necessary to ensure that
2 clients and family members participate in the mental health
3 system to their fullest capacity.
4 (6) It is the intent of the General Assembly to improve
5 the role and leadership of mental health system clients and
6 their family members in the development, implementation and
7 oversight of mental health policies in this Commonwealth, as
8 well as the exercise of consumer choice in the determination
9 of mental health treatment and service programs.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Article XI of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
13 No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a
14 subarticle to read:
15 (e) Grant Program for Empowerment of Mental Health
16 Clients and Family Members
17 Section 1161. Request for Proposals.--The department shall
18 issue a request for proposals in order to establish and expand
19 empowerment programs for mental health clients and their family
20 members by not later than October 1 in any year in which funds
21 are provided in the annual budget for this purpose. The
22 department shall make grants to counties on the basis of
23 proposals meeting the criteria set forth in this subarticle.
24 Section 1162. Content of Proposals.--Proposals solicited
25 under section 1161 may be submitted by any county and shall
26 include all of the following:
27 (1) A description of how the proposal will result in the
28 establishment, expansion or improvement of training, information
29 and referral services for clients and family members.
30 (2) A description of how the proposal will result in the
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1 establishment, expansion or improvement of the role of clients
2 and family members in local policy development, implementation
3 and oversight activities.
4 (3) A description of how the proposal will result in the
5 establishment, expansion or improvement of the use of clients
6 and family members in staff positions within the department.
7 (4) A description of how the proposal will result in the
8 establishment or expansion of self-help and other client-run
9 programs.
10 (5) A description of how the proposal will result in the
11 establishment of family-to-family support activities.
12 (6) A description of how the proposal will result in
13 improved decision making and choices for clients and family
14 members.
15 (7) A description of how clients and family members played a
16 substantive role in the development of the proposal.
17 (8) A description of how the county will continue to
18 implement its client and family-member empowerment plan after
19 the State grant funding authorized under this section is
20 terminated.
21 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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