To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program, and for other purposes.

January 24, 2005

Mr. INOUYE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Psychologists in the Service of the Public Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR FELLOWSHIPS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

Part C of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 749. GRANTS FOR FELLOWSHIPS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

`(a) In General- The Secretary shall establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program to make grants to and enter into contracts with eligible entities to encourage the provision of psychological training and services in underserved treatment areas.

`(b) Eligible Entities-

`(1) INDIVIDUALS- In order to receive a grant under this section an individual shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, including a certification that such individual--

`(A) has received a doctoral degree through a graduate program in psychology provided by an accredited institution at the time such grant is awarded;

`(B) will provide services to a medically underserved population during the period of such grant;

`(C) will comply with the provisions of subsection (c); and

`(D) will provide any other information or assurances as the Secretary determines appropriate.

`(2) INSTITUTIONS- In order to receive a grant or contract under this section, an institution shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, including a certification that such institution--

`(A) is an entity, approved by the State, that provides psychological services in medically underserved areas or to medically underserved populations (including entities that care for the mentally retarded, mental health institutions, and prisons);

`(B) will use amounts provided to such institution under this section to provide financial assistance in the form of fellowships to qualified individuals who meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1);

`(C) will not use more than 10 percent of amounts provided under this section to pay for the administrative costs of any fellowship programs established with such funds; and

`(D) will provide any other information or assurances as the Secretary determines appropriate.

`(c) Continued Provision of Services- Any individual who receives a grant or fellowship under this section shall certify to the Secretary that such individual will continue to provide the type of services for which such grant or fellowship is awarded for not less than 1 year after the term of the grant or fellowship has expired.

`(d) Regulations- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this section, including regulations that define the terms `medically underserved areas' and `medically underserved populations'.

`(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2008.'.

END