87R3659 EAS-D
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 697
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring entities that provide mental health services
  to veterans to provide military cultural competency training to
  personnel to accept a grant from a state agency.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 434.352, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  A state agency may not award a grant to an entity for the
  provision of mental health services to veterans unless the entity
  demonstrates that it provides military cultural competency
  training to its personnel who provide the services.  The commission
  and the Department of State Health Services jointly shall undertake
  to ensure that a state agency that may award a grant subject to this
  subsection has adopted policies to ensure compliance with this
  subsection.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1001,
  Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES [PROGRAM] FOR VETERANS
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.225 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1001.225.  LIMITATION ON GRANTS. The department may
  not award a grant to an entity for the provision of mental health
  services to veterans unless the entity demonstrates that it
  provides military cultural competency training to its personnel who
  provide the services.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.