BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1457
88R5796 MPF-F	By: Rosenthal et al. (Blanco)
	Veteran Affairs
	5/15/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Military culture is unique, and in order to understand the intricacies of the military experience, those who do not have a military background and who work with military personnel to provide mental health services need specific training. To better provide mental health services to this unique population, it is important that agencies undergo training on sexual assault, post-traumatic stress disorder, and awareness of personal beliefs with respect to military worldview and culture.

H.B. 1457 seeks to ensure that entities receiving grants to provide mental health services for veterans or veterans' families have proper training in this regard.

H.B. 1457 amends current law relating to required military informed care or military cultural competency training for certain personnel of entities that provide mental health services to veterans or veterans' families before award of a state agency grant.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 434.352, Government Code, by adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows:

(e)� Prohibits a state agency from awarding a grant to an entity for the provision of mental health services to veterans or veterans' families unless the entity demonstrates the entity:

(1)� has previously received and successfully executed a grant from the state agency; or

(2)� provides training on military informed care or military cultural competency to entity personnel who provide mental health services to veterans or veterans' families or requires those personnel to complete military competency training provided by any of the following:

(A)� the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC);

(B)� the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC);

(C)� the Military Veteran Peer Network;

(D)� the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

(E)� the United States Department of Defense;

(F)� the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or

(G)� a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of that code, with experience in providing training or technical assistance to entities that provide mental health services to veterans or veterans' families.

(f)� Requires TVC and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to jointly verify that each state agency authorized to award a grant subject to the requirements of Subsection (e) has adopted policies to ensure compliance with Subsection (e).

SECTION 2.� Amends the heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES� FOR VETERANS

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 1001.225, as follows:

Sec. 1001.225.� LIMITATION ON GRANTS.� Prohibits DSHS from awarding a grant to an entity for the provision of mental health services to veterans or veterans' families unless the entity demonstrates the entity:

(1)� has previously received and successfully executed a grant from DSHS; or

(2)� provides training on military informed care or military cultural competency to entity personnel who provide� mental health services to veterans or veterans' families or requires those personnel to complete military competency training provided by any of the following:

(A)� TVC;

(B)� HHSC;

(C)� the Military Veteran Peer Network;

(D)� the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

(E)� the United States Department of Defense;

(F)� the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2023.