2025 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

24107340D

SENATE BILL NO. 590

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

on February 8, 2024)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Deeds)

A BILL to amend and reenact § 37.2-500 of the Code of Virginia, relating to community services boards; core of services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 37.2-500 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 37.2-500. Purpose; community services board; services to be provided.

A. The Department, for the purposes of establishing, maintaining, and promoting the development of mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services in the Commonwealth, may provide funds to assist any city or county or any combinations of cities or counties or cities and counties in the provision of these services. Every city or county shall establish a community services board by itself or in any combination with other cities and counties, unless it establishes a behavioral health authority pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 37.2-600 et seq.). In order to provide comprehensive mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services within a continuum of care, the community services board shall function as the single point of entry into publicly funded mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services.

B. The purpose of behavioral health services provided by community services boards shall be to enable individuals who have a mental illness or substance use disorder that significantly impairs their functioning to access effective, timely, and cost-efficient services that help them (i) overcome or manage functional impairments caused by the mental illness or substance use disorder and (ii) remain in the community to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the individual's well-being and public safety.

The core of services provided by community C. Community services boards within the cities and counties that they serve shall include provide emergency services and the following core services:

1. Emergency services;

2. Same-day mental health screening services;

3. 2. Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring services for physical health indicators and health risks and follow-up services for individuals identified as being in need of assistance with overcoming barriers to accessing primary health services, including developing linkages to primary health care providers; and

4. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for them, case 3. Crisis services for individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder;

4. Outpatient mental health and substance abuse services;

5. Psychiatric rehabilitation services;

6. Peer support and family support services;

7. Mental health services for members of the armed forces located 50 miles or more from a military treatment facility and veterans located 40 miles or more from a Veterans Health Administration medical facility;

8. Care coordination services; and

9. Case management services.

Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for them, the core of services required by this subsection shall be (i) available to every adult who has a serious mental illness, child who has or is at risk of serious emotional disturbance, and individual who has a substance use disorder, provided that the adult, child, or individual qualifies for services provided by community services boards and behavioral health authorities, and (ii) provided in a timely manner and within a reasonable distance of the individual's residence in the Commonwealth.

C. D. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for them, the core of services may include a comprehensive system of inpatient, outpatient, day support, residential, prevention, early intervention, and other appropriate mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services necessary to provide individualized services and supports to persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance abuse. Community services boards may establish crisis stabilization units that provide residential crisis stabilization services.

D. The purpose of behavioral health services provided by community services boards shall be to enable individuals who have a mental illness or substance use disorder that significantly impairs their functioning to access effective, timely, and cost-efficient services that help them (i) overcome or manage functional impairments caused by the mental illness or substance use disorder and (ii) remain in the community to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the individual's well-being and public safety.

E. Every city or county or any combination of cities and counties that has established a community services board, in consultation with that board, shall designate it as an operating community services board, an administrative policy community services board, or a local government department with a policy-advisory community services board. The governing body of each city or county that established the community services board may change this designation at any time by ordinance. In the case of a community services board established by more than one city or county, the decision to change this designation shall be the unanimous decision of all governing bodies.

F. A community services board may enter into contracts with private providers to ensure the delivery of services pursuant to this article.