Innovative Treatments for Mental Health Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 568

Short Title: Innovative Treatments for Mental Health Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Chitlik and Hanig (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S568-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA M ENTAL HEALTH AND 2
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE TASK FORCE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental 5
Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, may establish the North 6
Carolina Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force (Task Force). The purpose of this 7
Task Force is to: 8
(1) Assess the potential use of psychedelic medicine in addressing the State's 9
ongoing mental health crisis. 10
(2) Consider barriers to implementation and equitable access. 11
(3) Consider and recommend licensing and insurance requirements for 12
practitioners in the State in the event that psychedelic medicines are federally 13
reclassified and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 14
(4) Consider legal and regulatory pathways to the legalization of psychedelic 15
medicines in the State and t he potential effects of the medicines on public 16
health. 17
SECTION 2. The Task Force shall consist of the following members: 18
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or the 19
Secretary's designee. 20
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, or the 21
Secretary's designee. 22
(3) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee. 23
(4) One member representing mental health issues in the State, selected by the 24
State chapter of a national alliance f ocused on mental health and mental 25
illness. 26
(5) One member representing health care needs of North Carolina Native 27
communities, selected by the tribal council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee 28
Indians. 29
(6) One member representing the health care needs of sur vivors of domestic 30
violence and sexual assault, selected by the NC Domestic Violence 31
Commission. 32
(7) One member representing the psychiatric profession, selected by the 33
governing body of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association. 34
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 568-First Edition
(8) One member of the fac ulty of the University of North Carolina School of 1
Medicine, selected by the dean of the University of North Carolina School of 2
Medicine. 3
(9) One member of the faculty of the East Carolina University Brody School of 4
Medicine, selected by the dean of the Brody School of Medicine. 5
(10) Two members of the Senate, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of 6
the Senate and one appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. 7
(11) Two members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker 8
of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the House Minority 9
Leader. 10
(12) Up to three members selected by the Task Force, once assembled, that the 11
Task Force determines would serve the purpose of the Task Force, including, 12
but not limited to, members of vetera ns advocacy groups, disabled veterans 13
groups, first responders associations, anti -human trafficking advocacy 14
organizations, law enforcement advocacy organizations, and victims' rights 15
groups. The Task Force is not required to make an appointment under this 16
subdivision. 17
SECTION 3. The Task Force shall elect a chair from among its members. 18
SECTION 4. A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner as the 19
original selection or appointment. 20
SECTION 5. Members of the Task Force shall receive pe r diem, subsistence, and 21
travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as appropriate. 22
SECTION 6. The Task Force shall: 23
(1) Meet at least four times to fulfill the purpose of the Task Force. 24
(2) Ensure members are available for legislative hearings. 25
(3) Submit a final report on the results of its study, including any proposed 26
legislation, to the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2026. 27
SECTION 7. The Task Force shall terminate on December 31, 2026, or upon the 28
filing of its final report, whichever is later. 29
SECTION 8. This act is effective when it becomes law. 30