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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a reintegration counseling program for |
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certain veterans and servicemembers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter U to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER U. SERVICEMEMBER COUNSELING |
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Sec. 161.551. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Active Duty" means that a servicemember is |
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activated and deployed outside the state pursuant to federal orders |
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under Title 10 or 32, United States Code. |
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(2) "Servicemember" means a resident of this state who |
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is a member of the Texas National Guard or a reserve component of |
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the United States armed forces in this state. |
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Sec. 161.552. REINTEGRATION COUNSELING PROGRAM. (a) The |
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Department of State Health Services shall develop and implement a |
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statewide reintegration counseling program for servicemembers and |
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their immediate families. The program shall: |
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(1) be available to a servicemember and the |
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servicemember's immediate family from the beginning date of active |
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duty until one year after the date of the servicemember's return or |
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deactivation, whichever is later; and |
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(2) include counseling services designed to |
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facilitate the reintegration of the servicemember back into |
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civilian and family life. |
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(b) The Department of State Health Services shall seek input |
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from the Texas National Guard regarding the content of the |
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reintegration counseling program. |
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SECTION 2. The Department of State Health Services shall |
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develop and implement the statewide reintegration counseling |
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program under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |