1     
FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GRANT

2     
PROGRAM

3     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox

6     
Senate Sponsor: Don L. Ipson

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill creates the First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program to be
11     administered by the Utah Board of Higher Education.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     creates the First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program to be
15     administered by the Utah Board of Higher Education to provide grants for specific
16     retirees who are studying at certain educational institutions to become mental health
17     therapists.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          This bill provides a special effective date.
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     ENACTS:
24          53B-8-117, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 53B-8-117 is enacted to read:

28          53B-8-117. First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program.
29          (1) This section creates the First Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program.
30          (2) Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection (6), the board shall award a
31     grant to an applicant who:
32          (a) is a retiree, as that term is defined in Section 49-11-102, who has qualified for an
33     allowance under the requirements of:
34          (i) Title 49, Chapter 14, Public Safety Contributory Retirement Act;
35          (ii) Title 49, Chapter 15, Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement Act;
36          (iii) Title 49, Chapter 16, Firefighters' Retirement Act; or
37          (iv) Title 49, Chapter 23, New Public Safety and Firefighter Tier II Contributory
38     Retirement Act; and
39          (b) is seeking a post-secondary degree or certification to become a mental health
40     therapist, as that term is defined in Section 58-60-102, within the state system of higher
41     education, described in Section 53B-1-102.
42          (3) (a) Subject to Subsection (3)(b), the board may award a qualified applicant up to
43     the cost of tuition and fees.
44          (b) A grant award under Subsection (3)(a) is limited to:
45          (i) a maximum of $6,000 each academic year; and
46          (ii) a maximum of four academic years.
47          (4) The board shall design the program to ensure that institutions combine loans,
48     grants, employment, and family and individual contributions toward financing the cost of
49     attendance.
50          (5) (a) The board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
51     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
52          (i) set deadlines for receiving grant applications and supporting documentation; and
53          (ii) establish the application process and an appeal process for the First Responder
54     Mental Health Services Grant Program.
55          (b) The board shall include a disclosure on all applications and related materials that
56     the amount of the awarded grants may be subject to funding or be reduced, in accordance with
57     Subsection (6).
58          (6) (a) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall make an annual

59     appropriation from the Income Tax Fund to the board for the costs associated with the First
60     Responder Mental Health Services Grant Program authorized under this section.
61          (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation under this
62     section is insufficient to cover the costs associated with the First Responder Mental Health
63     Services Grant Program, the board may:
64          (i) reduce the amount of a grant; or
65          (ii) distribute grants on a pro rata basis to all eligible applicants who submitted a
66     complete application before the application deadline.
67          Section 2. Effective date.
68          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.