S.B. No. 578

AN ACT

relating to the creation by the Health and Human Services Commission of a veteran suicide prevention action plan.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.0999. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN. (a) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families Technical Assistance Center Implementation Academy of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, veteran advocacy groups, medical providers, and any other organization or interested party the commission considers appropriate, shall develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and availability of professional veteran health services to prevent veteran suicides.

(b) The action plan must:

(1) identify opportunities for raising awareness of and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention;

(2) identify opportunities to increase access to veteran mental health services;

(3) identify funding resources to provide accessible, affordable veteran mental health services;

(4) provide measures to expand public-private partnerships to ensure access to quality, timely mental health services;

(5) provide for proactive outreach measures to reach veterans needing care;

(6) provide for peer-to-peer service coordination, including training, certification, recertification, and continuing education for peer coordinators; and

(7) address suicide prevention awareness, measures, and training regarding veterans involved in the justice system.

(c) The commission shall make specific short-term and long-term statutory, administrative, and budget-related recommendations to the legislature and the governor regarding the policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement the action plan developed under this section. The short-term recommendations must include a plan for state implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2019. The initiatives and reforms in the short-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2021. The long-term recommendations must include a plan for state implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2021. The initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2027.

(d) The commission shall include in its strategic plan under Chapter 2056 the plans for implementation of the short-term and long-term recommendations under Subsection (c).

(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.

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, 2017.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 578 passed the Senate on March 28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; May 27, 2017, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 28, 2017, House granted request of the Senate; May 28, 2017, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 578 passed the House, with amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, two present not voting; May 28, 2017, House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; May 28, 2017, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

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Date

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Governor