AN ACT to achieve better mental health recovery results by supporting peer‑run recovery wellness centers, BY creating a north carolina mental health recovery and RESILIENCY agenda, and BY requiring a mental health recovery policy chief within the division of mental health, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, and substance abuse services in the department of health and human services.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), the sum of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year to be allocated to the Promise Resource Network for the establishment of four peer‑run wellness centers to address mental health crisis prevention and post‑crisis response. These four peer‑run wellness centers shall be located in two different urban locations and two different rural locations in this State.

SECTION 1.(b)  No later than September 1, 2024, DMH/DD/SAS shall report on the status of the establishment of the four peer‑run wellness centers under subsection (a) of this section to the Joint Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services. The report shall include an estimated time line for the centers to be fully operational and an estimate of the number of individuals each center will have the capacity to serve.

SECTION 2.(a)  The title of Part 4 of Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:

Part 4. Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

SECTION 2.(b)  Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:

Part 37. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

§ 143B‑216.90.  Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief.

(a)        The position of Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief is established in the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(b)        The role of Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief shall only be held by an individual certified as a peer support specialist.

(c)        The Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief shall ensure that mental health recovery values and outcomes are drivers of State policy and work to engage knowledgeable individuals who have experienced mental health recovery and external experts to inform the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

§ 143B‑216.91.  NC Mental Health Recovery and Resiliency Agenda.

(a)        No later than January 31 of each odd calendar year, the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services of the Department of Health and Human Services shall publish a biennial NC Mental Health Recovery and Resiliency Agenda on its website.

(b)        The NC Mental Health Recovery and Resiliency Agenda shall set Department of Health and Human Services objectives for mental health recovery outcomes. The NC Mental Health Recovery and Resiliency Agenda shall provide both short‑term and long‑term objectives and track work done by the Department of Health and Human Services to meet the objectives from the prior Agenda.

(c)        The Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief established under this Part shall ensure that individuals with personal experiences of mental health recovery inform the development of each NC Mental Health Recovery and Resiliency Agenda.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 143B‑150.1 is recodified as G.S. 143B‑216.92, under Part 37 of Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, as enacted by subsection (b) of this section.

SECTION 2.(d)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in recurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in recurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to be used to fund the salary and benefits for the Mental Health Recovery Policy Chief position within DMH/DD/SAS, required under G.S. 143B‑216.90, as enacted by subsection (b) of this section.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.