H.R. 4878: Make Our Streets Safe Again Act

This bill, known as the Make Our Streets Safe Again Act (often abbreviated as MOSSA), aims to address issues related to crime and homelessness in the United States through various measures focused on civil commitment, law enforcement, and the management of homelessness. Below are the main provisions of the bill.

Restoring Civil Commitment

The bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to:

• Reevaluate Judicial Precedents: Seek to overturn legal decisions and consent decrees that limit the ability to civilly commit individuals with mental illness who may pose risks to themselves or to the public.
• Support State and Local Governments: Provide guidance and financial assistance to help states and municipalities in developing flexible standards for civil commitment and treatment of individuals with mental illness.

Fighting Vagrancy

The bill outlines responsibilities for various federal officials to:

• Grant Priority: Assess and prioritize discretionary grant programs for states and municipalities that enforce laws against open drug use, urban camping, and loitering.
• Address Dangerous Individuals: Implement standards for assisting individuals who are dangerous due to serious mental illness or substance use disorders, including consideration for civil commitment.
• Evaluate Homeless Individuals: Ensure that homeless individuals arrested for federal crimes are evaluated for sexual dangerousness to determine potential civil commitment.

Redirecting Federal Resources

The bill instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to:

• Reassess Grant Programs: Ensure that grants for substance use disorder programs focus on evidence-based practices and do not support ineffective harm reduction or safe consumption efforts.
• Support Housing Initiatives: Assist outpatient treatment programs aimed at transitioning individuals with serious mental illness from homelessness to stable living conditions.

Enhancing Accountability in Homelessness Programs

This section stipulates that federal agencies must:

• Increase Standards: Implement stricter accountability for homelessness assistance programs, including discontinuing "housing first" policies that do not prioritize treatment.
• Require Treatment: Demand that individuals receiving federal homelessness assistance engage in substance abuse treatment or mental health services as a condition of participation.
• Review Drug Use Policies: Examine and potentially act against programs that permit drug use in assisted housing or distribute drug paraphernalia.
• Protect Vulnerable Groups: Modify regulations to restrict housing allocations to ensure that sex offenders do not live with children or in women-only programs.
• Collect Health Data: Allow federal assistance recipients to collect health data from individuals receiving aid, ensuring that law enforcement and health resources are aligned with public safety efforts.

Rule of Construction

This section clarifies that the bill does not impair the functions of the Office of Management and Budget or create enforceable rights against the U.S. government.

Relevant Companies

• ABT (Abbott Laboratories) - Potentially impacted due to the emphasis on mental health and substance abuse treatment programs that might require new services or products.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.) - Could see changes in demand for pharmaceuticals related to mental health treatments as new public funding priorities are set.
• UNH (UnitedHealth Group) - Likely to impact their health services and programs related to mental health due to increased federal focus on treatment and recovery services.