(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Eligible individual" means: (i) An active service member; (ii) A veteran; (iii) The spouse of an active service member or veteran; (iv) A child of an active service member or veteran; or (v) A stepchild of an active service member or veteran. (3) "Program" means the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans. (b) (1) There is a Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans. (2) The purpose of the Program is to provide funds to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs to serve active service members, veterans, and their families. (c) The Department shall administer the Program. (d) The Program shall award competitive matching grants to local nonprofit organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs that: (1) Serve the behavioral health needs of eligible individuals in the locality served by the nonprofit organization; (2) Meet national standards; (3) Integrate the delivery of mental health and substance use treatment; and (4) Connect eligible individuals to appropriate community-based care in a timely manner on discharge from the community behavioral health program. (e) (1) To be eligible for a grant from the Program, a nonprofit organization must have a mission to: (i) Provide behavioral health services; or (ii) Provide services to active service members, veterans, or their families. (2) An eligible nonprofit organization shall secure contributions for the proposal in an amount of money or other consideration at least equal in value to the amount of money requested from the Program. (3) (i) In awarding matching grants under the Program, the Department shall develop selection criteria for evaluating applicant proposals. (ii) The selection criteria developed under this paragraph shall include positive scoring for proposals that: 1. Demonstrate fiscal controls, including by making use of multiple sources of funding; 2. Evidence project effectiveness, including by showing how the grant awarded by the Program will be used to augment existing services to create seamless behavioral health treatment; 3. Show an applicant's previous successful experience administering grants; and 4. Meet any other criteria the Department considers relevant. (iii) In awarding matching grants under this section, the Department shall give priority to proposals that best meet the selection criteria regardless of the projected cost. (4) The Department shall establish application procedures that implement the requirements of this subsection. (f) (1) The Department shall establish a statewide system of outcome measurement to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of services provided by each nonprofit organization receiving a matching grant under the Program. (2) A nonprofit organization receiving a matching grant under the Program shall submit any information that the Department determines is necessary for the statewide system of outcome measurement. (g) The Department shall establish: (1) Guidelines that require nonprofit organizations that receive a matching grant under the Program to bill third-party insurers and, when appropriate, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; and (2) Any other procedures necessary to carry out this section. (h) Beginning in fiscal year 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $2,500,000 for the Program. (i) On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2023, the Department shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly a report that includes, for the most recently closed fiscal year: (1) The number of grants distributed; (2) Funds distributed by county; (3) Information about grant recipients and the services provided through grant funding; and (4) Outcome data reported under the statewide system of measurement required under subsection (f) of this section.
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