SB 257: Establish the SCOPE Pilot Program
The Support Children's Overall Psychological and Emotional Health Pilot Program aims to provide mental health services to children with special health care needs. The program will address mental health conditions commonly experienced by children with complex medical issues. The department of health and the department of behavioral health will collaborate to initiate and oversee the delivery of mental health services, including outpatient care, counseling, and medication. The program will operate independently and terminate after one year or when funding is exhausted. Families will be informed about the program, and participating families will be surveyed to assess its effectiveness. An appropriation of $500,000 will be made for the program, with the option to reappropriate the unexpended balance for the following year. The program's finances will be accounted for separately, and expendi…
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Referred to committee: Finance |
| Sep. 10, 2025 | Introduced |
Cosponsors: Senators Hicks-Hudson, Smith
- Identifying mental health conditions that warrant treatment under the Pilot Program, which shall include medical-induced post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and any other conditions that may arise from the stress and trauma of enduring ongoing or serious medical conditions;
- Describing the services to be provided under the Pilot Program, which shall include outpatient care, counseling, and the medication for the treatment of mental health conditions;
- Establishing criteria for the provision of services under the Pilot Program;
- Generating a list of providers to provide services under the Pilot Program.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | DOH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH | |||
| B | General Revenue Fund | |||
| C | GRF 440485 Health Program Support | $500,000 | ||
| D | TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund | $500,000 | ||
| E | TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS | $500,000 |
The foregoing appropriation item 440485, Health Program Support, shall be used to support the Support Children's Overall Psychological and Emotional Health (SCOPE) Pilot Program in accordance with Section 1 of this act.
On July 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Director of Job and Family Services may certify to the Director of Budget and Management an amount up to the unexpended, unencumbered balance of the foregoing appropriation item 440485, Health Program Support, at the end of fiscal year 2026 to be reappropriated for fiscal year 2027. The amount certified is hereby reappropriated to the same appropriation item for fiscal year 2027.