Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program - Funding
Summary
SB599 requires the Governor to include specified funding for the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program in the annual operating budget. The bill extends the program’s funding schedule by adding a $5 million appropriation for each fiscal year 2027 through 2029, building on prior required appropriations for fiscal years 2020 through 2025. The bill also keeps in place the requirement that, beginning in fiscal year 2023, at least one-third of the appropriation be used for competitive grants for mobile crisis teams.
The grant program itself is designed to help local jurisdictions establish and expand community-based behavioral health crisis response systems. By mandating future budget appropriations, the bill strengthens the state’s commitment to crisis response infrastructure and mobile crisis services, and it affects the budgeting process rather than creating a new regulatory program. It amends Section 7.5-208 of the Health-General Article in the Maryland Code and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB599 amends Maryland Health-General § 7.5-208 to extend the Governor’s budget obligation for the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program through fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029 at $5 million per year. It preserves the existing requirement that at least one-third of the appropriation support competitive grants for mobile crisis teams. The bill primarily affects state budgeting and local behavioral health service providers, including counties and municipalities eligible for grant funding, by ensuring continued state support for crisis response systems.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support. It passed the Senate 31-13 and the House 121-16, indicating clear majorities in both chambers despite some opposition. The available record does not include committee testimony or detailed debate, but the vote margins suggest the measure was generally viewed favorably as continued support for behavioral health crisis services.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the mandated state spending commitment, since the bill requires the Governor to include a recurring $5 million appropriation in future budget bills for multiple years. Opponents may have objected to the fiscal obligation or to locking in funding through statute rather than leaving it to annual budget discretion. Supporters, by contrast, appear to have favored stable funding for local crisis response systems and mobile crisis teams.