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This past Friday, July 7, Governor Malloy signed HB 7312 into law, creating Public Act 17-147. This law includes the establishment of a Mental Health Community Investment Account within the General Fund. It will allow taxpayers to directly contribute from their refunds into a nonlapsing General Fund account (which may also be fed by other sources) targeted specifically to mental health.
Special thanks to local legislators Rep. Terry Adams (Stamford) and Rep. Bruce Morris (Norwalk) for co-sponsoring this bill! Read on for the relevant text of the bill, or click here for a summary of relevant legislation signed to date.
Sec. 42. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2017) There is established an account to be known as the "mental health community investment account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with nonprofit mental health organizations, for the purposes of improving services and programs in the state, including, but not limited to, residential services, job training and placement services, educational programs and support groups, designed to support individuals diagnosed with mental health conditions.
Sec. 43. Section 12-743 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2017):
(a) Any taxpayer filing a return ... may contribute any part of a refund to (1) the organ transplant account... , (2) the AIDS research education account... , (3) the endangered species, natural area preserves and watchable wildlife account... , (4) the breast cancer research and education account... , (5) the safety net services account... , (6) an individual savings plan established under the Connecticut Higher Education Trust... , or (7) the mental health community investment account established pursuant to section 42 of this act.