# 117-hr-7254: Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022

117-hr-7254, Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7254
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-7254
- Congress: 117
- Title: Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- Introduced: 2022-03-28
- Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022 This bill creates a grant program for mental health first responder units. It also eliminates a provision that permits nonfederal government health insurance plans that are self-funded to opt out of requirements to provide parity between coverage of medical services and mental health services. Specifically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must award grants to states and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs. SAMHSA must manage the program in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). SAMHSA may cancel grants that increase incarceration or institutionalization. Grantees must use funds for purposes including de-escalation and anti-racism training. The Department of Health and Human Services and the DOJ must evaluate this program.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2022-03-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
- 117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-5754: Patient Advocate Tracker Act
- 117-hr-2724: VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act
- 117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of thei…

## Sources
- [117-hr-7254 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7254)

## Related
- [117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1667)
- [117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3076)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-5754: Patient Advocate Tracker Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5754)
- [117-hr-2724: VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2724)
- [117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doher…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-310)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7254 (as of 2025-11-18).