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Mental Health Amendments of 1990

Public Law 101-639 · S. 2628 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 28, 1990 · Health

Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

Cosponsors (3): Sen. Brock Adams,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Mental Health Amendments of 1990 - Replaces Public Health Service Act provisions relating to a grant program regarding seriously mentally ill individuals and seriously mentally disturbed children with provisions authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make grants for demonstration projects for: (1) mental health services for seriously mentally ill individuals and their families, seriously emotionally and mentally disturbed children and youth and their families, seriously mentally ill homeless persons, and elderly individuals; (2) youth suicide prevention; (3) recognition, assessment, treatment, and clinical management of depressive disorders; (4) sex offense prevention and treatment and psychological assistance to sex offense victims; and (5) mental health services to victims of family violence. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes appropriations for grants under existing provisions to States for State comprehensive mental health services plans. Allows allotments to States under existing provisions to be used to develop and implement the plans. Excludes such expenditures from consideration regarding limits on administrative expenses. Changes the requirements for such plans, including: (1) replacing references to chronically mentally ill individuals with references to individuals with serious mental illnesses; and (2) adding references in selected provisions to children with serious emotional and mental disorders. Requires a State to use the State Mental Health Planning Council, or establish a new council with comparable membership requirements, to advise and review all aspects of development and implementation of the plan.

Extends deadlines for: (1) implementation of State plans; and (2) reduction of allotments for failure to substantially implement the plans. Applies provisions limiting the expenditures which may be required of a State to the period covered by the plan (currently, any fiscal year) and takes into consideration savings on inpatient hospitalization from the plan.

Authorizes the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to provide financial assistance for multidisciplinary health services research, demonstration, training, and other matters. (Current law authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance for such multidisciplinary matters with respect to: (1) rural areas; and (2) the health of low-income groups, minority groups, and the elderly.)

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.

  1. Nov 28, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-639.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 19, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 25, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 23, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Bliley demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  9. FloorFloor · Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  10. Sep 14, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  11. Sep 5, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
  12. Aug 4, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  13. Jul 24, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  14. May 16, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  15. May 15, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  16. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.