S.B. No. 55
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a grant program to support community
  mental health programs for veterans and their families.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.0992 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.0992.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
  VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (a)  To the extent funds are
  appropriated to the commission for that purpose, the commission
  shall establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting
  community mental health programs providing services and treatment
  to veterans and their families.
         (b)  The commission shall enter into an agreement with a
  qualified nonprofit or private entity to serve as the administrator
  of the grant program. The duties of the administrator must include
  assisting, supporting, and advising the commission in fulfilling
  the commission's responsibilities with respect to the grant
  program.  The administrator may advise the commission on:
               (1)  designing, developing, implementing, and managing
  the program;
               (2)  determining criteria for local community
  collaboration and the types of services and deliveries eligible for
  grants;
               (3)  eligibility requirements for grant recipients;
               (4)  designing and managing the competitive bidding
  processes for applications or proposals and the evaluation and
  selection of grant recipients;
               (5)  contractual requirements for grant recipients;
               (6)  grant requisites and mechanisms;
               (7)  roles and responsibilities of grant recipients;
               (8)  reporting requirements for grant recipients;
               (9)  support and technical capabilities;
               (10)  requisite timelines and deadlines for the
  program;
               (11)  evaluation of the program and grant recipients;
  and
               (12)  requirements for reporting on the program to
  policy makers.
         (c)  The private entity that supports and administers the
  grant program shall obtain or secure contributions to the grant
  program in an amount of money or other consideration at least equal
  in value to the amount of money awarded to grant recipients by the
  commission under the grant program. The money or other
  consideration obtained or secured by the private entity may, as
  determined by the executive commissioner, include cash or in-kind
  contributions from private contributors or local governments but
  may not include state or federal funds.
         (d)  Money appropriated to, or obtained by, the commission
  for the grant program must be disbursed directly to grant
  recipients by the commission, as authorized by the executive
  commissioner. Money or other consideration obtained or secured by
  the private entity must be disbursed or provided directly to grant
  recipients by the private entity, private contributors, or local
  governments, as authorized by the executive commissioner.
         (e)  All grants awarded under the grant program must be used
  for the sole purpose of supporting community programs that provide
  mental health care services and treatment to veterans and their
  families and that coordinate mental health care services for
  veterans and their families with other transition support services.
         (f)  The commission shall select grant recipients based on
  the submission of applications or proposals by nonprofit and
  governmental entities. The executive commissioner shall develop
  criteria for the evaluation of those applications or proposals and
  the selection of grant recipients. The selection criteria must:
               (1)  evaluate and score:
                     (A)  fiscal controls for the project;
                     (B)  project effectiveness;
                     (C)  project cost; and
                     (D)  an applicant's previous experience with
  grants and contracts;
               (2)  address the possibility of and method for making
  multiple awards; and
               (3)  include other factors that the executive
  commissioner considers relevant.
         (g)  The executive commissioner shall use a noncompetitive
  procurement procedure to select a qualified nonprofit or private
  entity to administer a pilot program of the grant program
  established under this section. In selecting the qualified
  nonprofit or private entity, the executive commissioner must
  consider the purposes of the program and the duties of the program
  administrator described in this section.
         (h)  The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules
  necessary to implement the grant program under this section.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the Senate on
  April 9, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
  May 20, 2015, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 24, 2015, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 30, 2015, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
  Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 19, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 136,
  Nays 5, one present not voting; May 24, 2015, House granted request
  of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 30, 2015, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 7, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor