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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a mental health intervention program |
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for military veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.076 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.076. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS. (a) In |
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this section, "veteran" means a person who: |
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(1) has served in: |
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(A) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or |
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marine corps of the United States; |
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(B) the state military forces as defined by |
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Section 431.001, Government Code; or |
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(C) an auxiliary service of one of those branches |
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of the armed forces; and |
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(2) has been honorably discharged from the branch of |
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the service in which the person served. |
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(b) The department shall develop a mental health |
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intervention program for veterans. The program must provide for |
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peer-to-peer counseling. |
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(c) The department shall solicit and train volunteers to |
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provide the peer-to-peer counseling. |
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SECTION 2. The Department of State Health Services shall |
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develop the mental health intervention program for veterans as |
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required by Section 1001.076, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act, not later than January 1, 2010. |
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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, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1325 passed the Senate on |
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April 15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1325 passed the House on |
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May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, one |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |