No. 27257 (Amendment): R523-1-22. Rural Mental Health Therapist Scholarship and Grants

DAR File No.: 27257
Filed: 06/30/2004, 10:26
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Section 62A-13-105 requires that the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health establish rules for the administration of the Rural Mental Health Therapist Grant and Scholarships.

 

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed section establishes an application process, eligibility and selection criteria, and educational requirements to receive funding from the Rural Mental Health Scholarship and Grant Act, Title 62A, Chapter 13. It also, establishes the eligibility requirements to determine underserved rural areas, which recipients may fulfill their service obligations as required by Subsection 62A-13-105(2).

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsection 62A-13-105(2)

 

This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material:

none

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

Funds for the Mental Health Scholarship Grant Act is funded through a separate line item appropriation and funding is based on that budget per Section 62A-13-109, so no new cost to the state budget is anticipated.

 

local governments:

Some rural local mental health authorities may benefit by gaining a mental health therapist through this program. They still would be required to pay the salary if they decided to hire that therapist. But the benefit would be in helping to recruit mental health professionals in areas that traditionally have had a difficult time recruiting therapists. The actual dollar benefits are not possible to calculate.

 

other persons:

People who are either licensed mental health professionals or those who are working toward a degree as a licensed mental health professional could benefit up to a total of $5,000 to help defray the educational costs toward that degree under this program.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There would be no compliance costs if the person fulfills the terms of the contract, if they do not complete the required service obligation, then they would be subject to the re-payment and or penalty listed under Section 62A-13-108.

 

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

Local Authorities in some areas of the State contract with private not-for-profit entities to provide mental health services for residents in their catchment area, some of those entities in rural areas may gain an employee who would work at their center through the scholarship or grant program. They would still be required to pay the salary and so the benefit would be in helping to recruit mental health professionals in areas that traditionally have had a difficult time recruiting those employees. The actual dollar benefits are not possible to calculate.

 

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Human Services
Mental Health
120 N 200 W 4TH FL
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84103-1500

 

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Janina Chilton at the above address, by phone at 801-538-4072, by FAX at 801-538-3993, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

 

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

08/16/2004

 

This rule may become effective on:

08/17/2004

 

Authorized by:

Robin Arnold-Williams, Executive Director

 

 

RULE TEXT

R523. Human Services, Mental Health.

R523-1. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Procedures.

R523-1-22. Rural Mental Health Scholarship and Grants.

The State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health hereby establish by rule an eligibility criteria and application process for the recipients of rural mental health scholarship funds, pursuant to the requirements of Section 62A-15-103.

(1) Eligibility criteria. The following criteria must be met by an applicant to qualify for this program.

(a) An applicant must be a current employee at an eligible Employment Site or have a firm commitment from an Eligible Employment Site for full time employment. Any sites that provide questionable or controversial mental health and /or substance abuse treatment methodologies will not be approved as eligible employment sites. Eligible Employment sites must be one of the following:

(i) Primary Employment Sites are community mental health centers and/or substance abuse providers that receive federal funds through a contract with the Division to provide mental health or substance treatment services.

(ii) Secondary Employment Sites are mental health or substance abuse providers that are licensed to provide mental health/substance treatment services by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, and serve more than 75% of Utah residents in their programs.

(b) An applicant must also agree to work in a designated eligible underserved rural area. Underserved rural areas must be classified as a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). The State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health can be contacted for a current list of HPSA sites.

(c) For Scholarship Grants; show registration in a course leading to a degree from a educational institution in the United States or Canada that will qualify them to receive licensure in Utah as a Mental Health Therapist s defined in Section 62A-13-102(4).

(d) For Loan Repayment Grants; show the amount of loans needing repayment, verify that the loans are all current, licensure as a Mental Health Therapist as defined in Section 62A-13-102(4).

(2) Grants. Two types of grants are available to eligible applicants.

(a) A loan Repayment Grant is to repay bona fide loans for educational expenses at an institution that provided training toward an applicant's degree, or to pay for the completion of specified additional course work that meets the educational requirements necessary for licensure as a Mental Health Therapist.

(b) A Scholarship is to pay for current educational expenses from an Educational Program that meets the educational requirements necessary for licensure as a Mental Health Therapist, at a school within the United States.

(3) Funding. Grants for applicants will be based upon the availability of funding the matching of community needs (i.e., how critical the shortage of Mental Health Therapists), the applicant's field of practice, and requested employment site. Primary employment sites are given priority over secondary employment sites.

(a) The award for each applicant may not exceed $5,000 per person. The Division will notify the grantee of the award amount. Exceptions in the amount of the award may be made due to unique circumstances as determined by the Division.

(b) An applicant may receive multiple awards, as long as the total awards do not exceed the recommended amount of $5,000, unless the Division approves an exception.

(4) Grantee obligation.

(a) The service obligation for applicants consists of 24 continuous months of full time (40) hours per week) employment as a Mental Health Therapist at an approved eligible employment site. The Division may change this service obligation if the Division Director determines that due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion of the obligation would be unfair to the recipient.

(b) Failure to finish the education program or complete the service obligation results in a repayment of grant funds according to Section-62A13-108.

(5) Application forms and instructions for grants or scholarships can be obtained from the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, 120 North 200 West, Room 209, Salt Lake City, Utah. Only complete applications supported by all necessary documents will be considered. All applicants will be notified in writing of application disposition with in 60 days. A written appeal may be made to the Division Director within 30 days from the date of notification.

 

KEY: bed allocations, due process, prohibited items and devices, fees

2004

Notice of Continuation December 11, 2002

62A-12-102

62A-12-104

62A-12-209.6(2)

62A-12-283.1(3)(a)(i)

62A-12-283.1(3)(a)(ii)

62A-15-612(2)