A Democratic bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the "Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Pilot Program Act" to create a 5-year pilot program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award grants to eligible states or local governments to expand forensic assertive community treatment team programs. These programs provide intensive, field-based services like mental health care, addiction treatment, and housing assistance to individuals with serious mental illness involved with the criminal justice system. The bill also directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement for a study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This study aims to establish effectiveness metrics, develop policy proposals, and provide implementation frameworks.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill establishes a pilot program to expand intensive, field-based mental health care for individuals with serious mental illness.
- Scored +7
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill expands intensive community-based support for individuals with serious mental illness.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill provides grants to help entities serve more community members through specialized treatment programs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Care: Eligible entities can use grants to expand programs to serve more community members (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Comprehensive Support Services: Individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders can receive around the clock, time-unlimited care, including mental health care, addiction treatment, vocational training, and housing assistance (Section 2(a)(2)(B)(i)).
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Targeted Assistance for Justice-Involved Individuals: The program provides specialized services for people who have had contact with law enforcement, courts, or correctional systems (Section 2(a)(2)(C)).
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Multidisciplinary Professional Support: Participants can be served by teams that include psychiatry, employment and substance use specialists, criminal justice partners, and forensic peer specialists (Section 2(a)(2)(B)(iii)).
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Evidence-Based Program Evaluation: The mandated study seeks to identify ways to improve mental health outcomes, reduce psychiatric hospitalizations, and improve overall public safety (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill establishes a pilot program to expand intensive, field-based mental health care for individuals with serious mental illness. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides grants to help entities serve more community members through specialized treatment programs. Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill includes addiction treatment as a core component of the forensic assertive community treatment team programs.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill expands intensive community-based support for individuals with serious mental illness. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides essential mental health, addiction, and housing services to individuals who may be economically vulnerable due to justice system involvement. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill directs the study to provide implementation frameworks with specific attention to the unique needs of rural communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes considerations for adapting the program model for rural communities, implying an urban-focused starting point.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill includes housing assistance as a specific service provided by the forensic assertive community treatment teams. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The bill aims to reduce the time it takes for at-risk individuals to access stable housing through its service model. Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill incorporates criminal justice partners into multidisciplinary teams to assist those involved in the justice system. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides vocational training to help individuals with serious mental illness reintegrate into the community.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The expansion of forensic assertive community treatment programs through grants will likely create new roles for mental health and addiction specialists.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to publish the results of the National Academies study on a public website.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey