By: Nelson S.B. No. 55

(In the Senate - Filed November 10, 2014; January 26, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; March 16, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 16, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a grant program to support community mental health programs for veterans with mental illness.

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. (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 with mental illness.

(b) The commission shall contract with a private entity to support and administer the grant program. The contract between the commission and the private entity must require that:

(1) the commission and the private entity each provide one-half of the money that will be awarded under the grant program;

(2) the private entity develop eligibility criteria for grant applicants, acceptable uses of grant money by grant recipients, and reporting requirements for grant recipients; and

(3) the private entity obtain the commission's approval of the eligibility criteria, acceptable uses, and reporting requirements developed under Subdivision (2) before awarding any grants under the program.

(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the grant program under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

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