Read the full stored bill text
As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 257
2025-2026
Senator Weinstein
Cosponsors: Senators Hicks-Hudson,
Smith
To
establish
the Support Children's Overall Psychological and Emotional Health
(SCOPE) Pilot Program and to make an appropriation.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
(A)
The Support Children's Overall Psychological and Emotional Health
(SCOPE) Pilot Program is established in collaboration between the
Department of Health and the Department of Behavioral Health. The
purpose of the SCOPE Pilot Program is to provide mental health
services to individuals eligible for the Program for Children and
Youth with Special Health Care Needs under sections 3701.021 to
3701.028 of the Revised Code.
(B)
The SCOPE Pilot Program shall address mental health conditions that
are commonly experienced by children and families managing complex
medical issues. The Department of Health and the Department of
Behavioral Health shall work collaboratively to initiate and oversee
the delivery of mental health services under the Pilot Program,
including all of the following:
(1)
Identifying mental health conditions that warrant treatment under the
Pilot Program, which shall include medical-induced post-traumatic
stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and any other conditions that
may arise from the stress and trauma of enduring ongoing or serious
medical conditions;
(2)
Describing the services to be provided under the Pilot Program, which
shall include outpatient care, counseling, and the medication for the
treatment of mental health conditions;
(3)
Establishing criteria for the provision of services under the Pilot
Program;
(4)
Generating a list of providers to provide services under the Pilot
Program.
(C)
The Department of Health shall inform families who are eligible for
the Program for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
under sections 3701.021 to 3701.028 of the Revised Code about the
SCOPE Pilot Program. The Pilot Program shall operate independently
from the Program for Children and Youth with Special Health Care
Needs.
(D)
The SCOPE Pilot Program terminates after one year or when funding is
exhausted, whichever occurs first. Upon the termination of the Pilot
Program, the Department of Health and Department of Behavioral Health
jointly shall survey participating families to assess the Pilot
Program's effectiveness.
Section
2.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.
Section
3.
1
2
3
4
5
A
DOH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
B
General
Revenue Fund
C
GRF
440485
Health
Program Support
$500,000
$0
D
TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund
$500,000
$0
E
TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS
$500,000
$0
HEALTH
PROGRAM SUPPORT
The
foregoing appropriation item 440485, Health Program Support, shall be
used to support the Support Children's Overall Psychological and
Emotional Health (SCOPE) Pilot Program in accordance with Section 1
of this act.
On
July 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Director of Job
and Family Services may certify to the Director of Budget and
Management an amount up to the unexpended, unencumbered balance of
the foregoing appropriation item 440485, Health Program Support, at
the end of fiscal year 2026 to be reappropriated for fiscal year
2027. The amount certified is hereby reappropriated to the same
appropriation item for fiscal year 2027.
Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly.