H.R. 10712 — First Responder Behavioral Health Access Act

This section expands eligibility under the mental and behavioral health education and training grant program to qualified emergency response providers, which include emergency response providers and public safety telecommunicators. It authorizes grants to these providers to support the recruitment and field placement of clinicians and behavioral health service providers.

This section establishes a 3-year pilot program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services awards grants to state, local, county, or regional health departments, behavioral health agencies, and nonprofits to support behavioral health services for qualified emergency response providers, including public safety telecommunicators. The grants fund embedded licensed clinicians for confidential counseling, peer-to-peer programs, program oversight, and training of peer providers, with priority for under-resourced entities and equitable geographic distribution; the section authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 and requires a report to Congress on outcomes, contacts, and training.