BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 4429
86R31001 SRA-F	By: Blanco (Men�ndez)
	Health & Human Services
	5/19/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

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. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.H.B. 4429 amends current law relating to mental health first aid training for veterans and immediate family members of 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 coordinate local delivery to veterans and immediate family members of veterans of mental health first aid for veterans training.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1001.205, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

Sec. 1001.205. REPORTS. (a) Requires a local mental health authority, not later than September 30 of each year, to provide to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) the number of veterans and immediate family members of veterans who completed the veterans module of a mental health first aid training program offered by the authority during the preceding fiscal year. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(b) Requires DSHS, not later than December 1 of each year, to compile the information submitted by local mental health authorities as required by Subsection (a) and submit a report to the legislature containing the number of veterans and immediate family members of veterans who completed the veterans module of a mental health first aid training program offered by the authority during the preceding fiscal year. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.222(a), Health and Safety Code, to require the Department of State Health Services to develop a mental health intervention program for veterans to include coordination of mental health first aid for veterans training to veterans and immediate family members of veterans.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.