85R14686 JG-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 1986
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of an advisory committee on mental health
  issues affecting veterans within the Texas Veterans Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.0102 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.0102.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH.  (a)
  The commission shall establish an advisory committee on mental
  health issues affecting veterans to:
               (1)  advise the commission on mental health issues
  affecting veterans;
               (2)  identify and study mental health issues affecting
  veterans, including suicide;
               (3)  assess existing mental health services for
  veterans, including services aimed at suicide prevention; and
               (4)  develop recommendations to improve and increase
  mental health services for veterans, including services aimed at
  suicide prevention.
         (b)  The advisory committee is composed of members appointed
  by the executive director.  The committee must include at least:
               (1)  one member who is a mental health professional;
               (2)  one member who is a mental health advocate;
               (3)  one member who is a member of the Texas Medical
  Association; and
               (4)  one member who is a representative of the United
  States Department of Veterans Affairs.
         (c)  The executive director may appoint as many members to
  the advisory committee as the executive director considers
  appropriate to achieve the purposes of the committee.
         (d)  The executive director shall appoint one member of the
  advisory committee to serve as presiding officer.
         (e)  A member of the advisory committee may not receive
  compensation for service on the committee, but is entitled to
  reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in
  performing committee duties.  The committee may accept gifts,
  grants, and donations to pay for those expenses.
         (f)  The advisory committee shall meet at least quarterly at
  the call of the presiding officer and at other times as determined
  by the presiding officer.  The committee may hold a meeting by
  telephone conference call or videoconference.
         (g)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the advisory committee shall submit a written or electronic report
  to the commission, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the
  legislature with its findings and recommendations described under
  Subsection (a).
         (h)  The commission shall adopt any rules necessary to
  implement this section, including rules governing the terms of and
  any additional qualifications for members of the advisory
  committee.
         (i)  Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2017, the executive
  director of the Texas Veterans Commission shall appoint members to
  the advisory committee established under Section 434.0102,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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.