85R4979 AAF-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 578
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation by the Texas Veterans Commission of a
  veteran suicide prevention action plan.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.024 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.024.  VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN. (a)
  The commission, in collaboration with the United States Department
  of Veterans Affairs, 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; and
               (5)  provide for proactive outreach measures to reach
  veterans needing care.
         (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.