By: West, et al. S.B. No. 1058

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reintegration counseling services and related resources for military servicemembers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 431.001, Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:

(1-a) "Servicemember" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.551, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 431.0291 to read as follows:

Sec. 431.0291. SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM. (a) The department shall develop a program to provide referrals to servicemembers for reintegration services.

(b) The program shall:

(1) identify and make referrals to community-based organizations that have existing programs that provide reintegration services to servicemembers and their families;

(2) focus on early intervention and appropriate referral to promote the health of servicemembers and the children and other family members of the servicemembers;

(3) promote family cohesion and sustainability;

(4) be based on evidence-based best practices related to meeting the needs of servicemembers and the children and other family members of the servicemembers;

(5) be carried out, when appropriate, in a community setting through peer counseling and other means effective for community outreach;

(6) use existing service delivery facilities, including churches, National Guard Bureau family education facilities, and veterans centers and support facilities;

(7) use community-based and faith-based organizations;

(8) be developed and administered in a manner that promotes collaboration of service providers and results in the referral of servicemembers, their children, and other family members to the appropriate federal, state, and community services for which they are eligible; and

(9) provide information and referral services regarding the risks and consequences of trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions for which servicemembers are at risk.

(c) The department shall ensure that:

(1) each person who provides referrals to servicemembers under the referral program has received sufficient training to ensure that servicemembers receive accurate information; and

(2) servicemembers are notified in a timely manner about the service referral program.

(d) In developing the referral program, the department shall consult with the state military forces, the National Guard Bureau, the United States Veterans Health Administration, the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

SECTION 3. Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 434.007. DUTIES. The commission shall:

(1) compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families and dependents;

(2) collect information relating to services and facilities available to veterans;

(3) cooperate with veterans service agencies in the state;

(4) inform members and veterans of the armed forces, their families and dependents, and military and civilian authorities about the existence or availability of:

(A) educational training and retraining facilities;

(B) health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing services and facilities;

(C) employment and reemployment services;

(D) provisions of federal, state, and local law affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans of the armed forces and their families and dependents; and

(E) other similar, related, or appropriate matters;

(5) assist veterans and their families and dependents in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges, rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local law;

(6) cooperate with all government and private agencies securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and dependents;

(7) investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and recommend necessary legislation for full correction;

(8) coordinate the services and activities of state departments and divisions having services and resources affecting veterans or their families or dependents; [and]

(9) provide training and certification of veterans county service officers and assistant veterans county service officers in accordance with Section 434.038; and

(10) through surveys or other reasonable and accurate methods of estimation, collect and maintain for each county in the state the number of servicemembers and veterans residing in the county and annually update and publish the information on the commission's website.

SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 434.107 to read as follows:

Sec. 434.107. DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. (a) The commission shall collaborate with and assist the Department of State Health Services and the Health and Human Services Commission in compiling and maintaining the directory of services established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The commission shall provide the directory of services established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code, on the commission's website or through links appearing on the commission's website.

SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.093 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.093. SERVICES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL. (a) In this section, "servicemember" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.551, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The executive commissioner shall ensure that each health and human services agency adopts policies and procedures that require the agency to:

(1) identify servicemembers who are seeking services from the agency during the agency's intake and eligibility determination process; and

(2) direct servicemembers seeking services to appropriate service providers, including the United States Veterans Health Administration, National Guard Bureau facilities, and other federal, state, and local service providers.

(c) The executive commissioner shall make the directory of resources established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code, accessible to each health and human services agency.

SECTION 6. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subchapter U to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER U. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES

Sec. 161.551. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.

(3) "Servicemember" means a resident of this state who is a member or former member of the state military forces or a component of the United States armed forces, including a reserve component. In this section, "state military forces" has the meaning assigned by Section 431.001, Government Code.

Sec. 161.552. DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. (a) The department and commission shall compile, maintain, and disseminate through the Texas Information and Referral Network and through other appropriate media, a directory of services and other resources, tools, and counseling programs available to servicemembers and their immediate family.

(b) The directory must include:

(1) information regarding counseling services that:

(A) facilitate the reintegration of the servicemember into civilian and family life;

(B) identify and treat stress disorders, trauma, and traumatic brain injury;

(C) address parenting and family well-being, employment, and substance abuse issues; and

(D) provide crisis intervention services;

(2) to the greatest degree possible in the judgment of the department, all private and public community, state, and national resources that protect and promote the health and well-being of servicemembers and their immediate family and that are accessible in the state directly or through electronic media, print media, or the Internet; and

(3) other resources that support the health of servicemembers and their families.

(c) The department and commission shall organize the directory in a manner that allows a person to locate services in a specific community in the state.

(d) The department and commission shall develop and maintain the directory in collaboration with local, state, and national private and government organizations, including:

(1) the United States Veterans Health Administration;

(2) the United States Department of Defense;

(3) the adjutant general's department;

(4) the Texas Veterans Commission; and

(5) other public and private national and community-based organizations that provide support to servicemembers and their families.

(e) The department shall provide the directory to the Texas Information and Referral Network of the commission in the time periods and in the manner and format specified by the Texas Information and Referral Network.

(f) The department shall provide the directory on the department's website or through links appearing on the department's website.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.