NC H981

Requires the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to designate an additional region in south central North Carolina comprised of at least 14 counties (Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, and Union) to serve individuals with mental illness, intellectual/developmental disability, or substance abuse disorder.

Appropriates $23,996,906 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year to the Department of Health and Human Services for planning, site development, and construction of a new 200-bed state psychiatric hospital to serve the newly designated south central region.

Appropriates $95,987,625 for the 2014-2015 fiscal year for continued construction of the 200-bed psychiatric hospital.

Requires the Department to report the hospital's location to specified legislative committees and oversight bodies once a site is selected.

Cites the decline of inpatient psychiatric beds from approximately 1,750 to 850 since 2001 and the increase in North Carolina residents needing mental health services as justification for the new facility.