NYAPRS Note: Here’re some brief updates on how House and Senate mental health legislative proposals are faring.
The House
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has scheduled a markup for June 14 and 15, 2016 to consider H.R. 2646, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. “Over the past eight months, the Committee has received input from stakeholders and member offices on the H.R. 2646, as forwarded by the Subcommittee. On June 3, 2016, the Committee circulated a draft Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (AINS) to H.R. 2646 for comment from stakeholders and member offices. The Committee is working diligently to incorporate those comments into the AINS in advance of the full Committee markup.” http://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF00/20160614/105076/HMKP-114-IF00-20160614-SD001.pdf. Look for info on how to watch the markup process as soon as we get it.
The Senate
According to this morning’s Politico, Sen. Chris Murphy, a lead sponsor of the mental health reform bill approved by the HELP Committee in March, is losing confidence his bill will get floor time and is floating the idea of incorporating pieces of it into the CARA opioids legislation conference. With time running out, the Senator is seeking alternative routes if the Senate cannot produce a consensus bill, given efforts to include controversial gun related items in the bill.