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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to award grants for personalized |
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treatment protocols for veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic |
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stress disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 49A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 49A. VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS FOR |
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POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT PROTOCOLS |
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Sec. 49A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Pilot program" means the pilot program |
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established under this chapter. |
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(2) "Veteran" means an individual who has served in: |
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(A) an active or reserve component of the army, |
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navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States; |
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or |
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(B) the Texas National Guard, as defined by |
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Section 431.001, Government Code. |
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Sec. 49A.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. |
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(a) The commission, using available resources and in cooperation |
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with a nonprofit veterans organization, shall establish and operate |
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a pilot program to award grants for the provision of a personalized |
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treatment protocol to at least 250 veterans diagnosed with |
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post-traumatic stress disorder, including treatment-resistant |
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post-traumatic stress disorder. |
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(b) A personalized treatment protocol provided to a veteran |
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under the pilot program must be: |
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(1) administered at the veteran's home; and |
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(2) designed to reduce neuroinflammation and |
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replenish deficient or insufficient brain chemistry to an optimal |
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level. |
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(c) The commission may award a grant under the pilot program |
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only in accordance with a contract between the commission and a |
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grant recipient. The contract must include provisions under which |
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the commission is granted sufficient control to ensure the public |
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purpose of providing treatment to veterans is accomplished and the |
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state receives the return benefit. |
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(d) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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to operate the pilot program. |
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Sec. 49A.003. RULES. The executive commissioner shall |
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adopt rules to implement this chapter. |
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Sec. 49A.004. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2028, the |
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commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate |
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standing committees of the legislature a report that includes: |
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(1) information on the number of veterans who were |
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provided a personalized treatment protocol under the pilot program; |
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and |
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(2) an evaluation of the pilot program's |
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effectiveness. |
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Sec. 49A.005. EXPIRATION. The pilot program concludes and |
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this chapter expires September 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish and begin operating the pilot program under Chapter 49A, |
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Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |