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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to facilitate the delivery of certain mental |
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health services for 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 74, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 74.155 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 74.155. NATIONAL CENTER FOR WARRIOR RESILIENCY. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "Board" means the board of regents of The |
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University of Texas System. |
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(2) "Center" means the National Center for Warrior |
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Resiliency. |
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(b) The board shall establish the National Center for |
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Warrior Resiliency at The University of Texas Health Science Center |
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at San Antonio for purposes of: |
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(1) researching issues relating to the detection, |
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prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of combat-related |
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post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbid conditions; and |
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(2) providing clinical care to enhance the |
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psychological resiliency of military personnel and veterans. |
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(c) The organization, control, and management of the center |
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are vested in the board. |
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(d) The board shall: |
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(1) provide for the employment of staff and an |
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operating budget for the center; and |
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(2) select a site for the center at The University of |
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Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. |
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(e) The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and |
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grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of |
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the center. |
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(f) The center may enter into agreements or otherwise |
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collaborate with public or private entities, including other public |
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institutions of higher education, private or independent |
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institutions of higher education, the United States Department of |
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Veterans Affairs, the United States Department of Defense, the |
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National Institutes of Health, and the Texas Veterans Commission, |
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to perform the research functions of the center. |
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(g) An employee of the center is an employee of The |
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University of Texas System. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0999. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN. |
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(a) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Coordinating |
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Council for Veterans Services, the United States Department of |
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Veterans Affairs, the Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families |
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Technical Assistance Center Implementation Academy of the |
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the |
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United States Department of Health and Human Services, veteran |
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advocacy groups, medical providers, and any other organization or |
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interested party the commission considers appropriate, shall |
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develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and |
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availability of professional veteran health services to prevent |
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veteran suicides. |
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(b) The action plan must: |
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(1) identify opportunities for raising awareness of |
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and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention; |
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(2) identify opportunities to increase access to |
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veteran mental health services; |
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(3) identify funding resources to provide accessible, |
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affordable veteran mental health services; |
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(4) provide measures to expand public-private |
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partnerships to ensure access to quality, timely mental health |
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services; |
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(5) provide for proactive outreach measures to reach |
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veterans needing care; |
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(6) provide for peer-to-peer service coordination, |
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including training, certification, recertification, and continuing |
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education for peer coordinators; and |
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(7) address suicide prevention awareness, measures, |
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and training regarding veterans involved in the justice system. |
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(c) The commission shall make specific short-term and |
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long-term statutory, administrative, and budget-related |
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recommendations to the legislature and the governor regarding the |
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policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement the action |
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plan developed under this section. The short-term recommendations |
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must include a plan for state implementation beginning not later |
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than September 1, 2019. The initiatives and reforms in the |
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short-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2021. The |
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long-term recommendations must include a plan for state |
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implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2021. The |
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initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be fully |
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implemented by September 1, 2027. |
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(d) The commission shall include in its strategic plan under |
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Chapter 2056 the plans for implementation of the short-term and |
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long-term recommendations under Subsection (c). |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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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, 2017. |