BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4429
86R15508 SRA-F	By: Blanco (Men�ndez)
	Health & Human Services
	5/7/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

There are concerns about the rate of mental health disorders and suicide among veterans. It has been suggested that mental health first aid training can help veterans improve awareness of where and how to seek treatment. H.B. 4429 seeks to improve veteran awareness of mental health treatment, decrease stigma, and ultimately save lives by including mental health first aid in the Texas Veterans' Mental Health Program.

H.B. 4429 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Veterans Commission, for the mental health program for veterans, to contract with local mental health authorities to provide to veterans and immediate family members of veterans mental health first aid for veterans' training. H.B. 4429 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) mental health program for veterans to include training for veterans and immediate family members of veterans on mental health first aid for veterans. The bill requires the DSHS annual report regarding the mental health program for veterans to include the number of veterans and immediate family members of veterans who received such training through the program.

H.B. 4429 amends current law relating to the inclusion of mental health first aid training in the mental health program for veterans.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 434.352(b), Government Code, to require the Texas Veterans Commission, for the mental health program for veterans, to contract with local mental health authorities as defined by Section 531.002 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, to provide to veterans and immediate family members of veterans mental health first aid for veterans training.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1001.222(a), Health and Safety Code, to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to develop a mental health intervention program for veterans to include training for veterans and immediate family members of veterans on mental health first aid for veterans.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.224, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

Sec. 1001.224. ANNUAL REPORT. Requires DSHS, not later than December 1 of each year, to submit a report to the governor and the legislature that includes:

(1)�(3) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(4) in addition to Subdivision (1) (relating to the number of veterans who received services through the mental health program for veterans), the number of veterans and immediate family members of veterans who received mental health first aid for veterans training through the mental health program for veterans; and

(5) creates this subdivisions from existing Subdivision (4) and makes no further changes.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.