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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation by the Texas Veterans Commission of a |
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veteran suicide prevention action plan. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.024. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN. (a) |
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The commission, in collaboration with the United States Department |
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of Veterans Affairs, veteran advocacy groups, medical providers, |
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and any other organization or interested party the commission |
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considers appropriate, shall develop a comprehensive action plan to |
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increase access to and availability of professional veteran health |
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services to prevent 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; and |
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(5) provide for proactive outreach measures to reach |
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veterans needing care. |
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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 2. 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. |