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