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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an instruction guide for family members and caregivers |
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of veterans who have mental health disorders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0932 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0932. INSTRUCTION GUIDE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND |
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CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. (a) The |
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commission and the Texas Veterans Commission jointly shall produce |
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and make publicly available an instruction guide for family members |
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and caregivers of veterans who have mental health disorders. |
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(b) The instruction guide produced under this section must |
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include: |
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(1) general education about different mental health |
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disorders, including instruction intended to improve understanding |
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about the experience of persons suffering from those mental health |
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disorders; |
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(2) techniques for handling crisis situations and |
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administering mental health first aid to persons suffering from |
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mental health disorders; |
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(3) techniques for coping with the stress of living |
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with a person with a mental health disorder; and |
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(4) information about related services available for |
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family members and caregivers of veterans who have mental health |
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disorders that are provided by the commission, the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, other state agencies, community organizations, and |
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mental health services providers. |
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(c) The commission and the Texas Veterans Commission each |
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shall publish the guide produced under this section on the |
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respective agency's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |