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.

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.