| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the inclusion of mental health first aid training in the |
|
|
mental health program for veterans. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 434.352(b), Government Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) For the mental health program for veterans, the |
|
|
commission shall: |
|
|
(1) provide training to peer service coordinators and |
|
|
peers in accordance with Section 434.353; |
|
|
(2) provide technical assistance to peer service |
|
|
coordinators and peers; |
|
|
(3) identify, train, and communicate with |
|
|
community-based licensed mental health professionals, |
|
|
community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations; |
|
|
[and] |
|
|
(4) coordinate services for justice involved |
|
|
veterans; and |
|
|
(5) contract with local mental health authorities as |
|
|
defined by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code, to provide to |
|
|
veterans and immediate family members of veterans mental health |
|
|
first aid for veterans training. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 1001.222(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The department shall develop a mental health |
|
|
intervention program for veterans. The program must include: |
|
|
(1) peer-to-peer counseling; |
|
|
(2) access to licensed mental health professionals for |
|
|
peer service coordinators and peers; |
|
|
(3) training approved by the department for peer |
|
|
service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and |
|
|
peers; |
|
|
(4) technical assistance for peer service |
|
|
coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers; |
|
|
(5) identification, retention, and screening of |
|
|
community-based licensed mental health professionals; |
|
|
(6) suicide prevention training for peer service |
|
|
coordinators and peers; [and] |
|
|
(7) veteran jail diversion services, including |
|
|
veterans treatment courts; and |
|
|
(8) training for veterans and immediate family members |
|
|
of veterans on mental health first aid for veterans. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 1001.224, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1001.224. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
|
|
each year, the department shall submit a report to the governor and |
|
|
the legislature that includes: |
|
|
(1) the number of veterans who received services |
|
|
through the mental health program for veterans; |
|
|
(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators |
|
|
trained; |
|
|
(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this |
|
|
subchapter; |
|
|
(4) in addition to Subdivision (1), 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) [(4)] recommendations for program improvements. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |