HB197INTRODUCED
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HB197
QPGN151-1
By Representatives Brown, Oliver, Starnes, Jackson, Jones,
Rogers, Robertson, Sellers, Crawford, Rehm, Wood (R), Smith,
Paschal, Hill, Carns
RFD: Military and Veterans Affairs
First Read: 20-Feb-24
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7 QPGN151-1 02/08/2024 MAP (L)ma 2023-2832
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First Read: 20-Feb-24
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would authorize the Alabama Department
of Veterans Affairs to establish and operate a
statewide integrated health care system dedicated to
Alabama veterans and their immediate family members,
consisting of comprehensive in-patient facilities and
outpatient clinics to address the health care needs
affecting Alabama veterans.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs; to add
Chapter 5B to Title 31, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the
Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and operate a
statewide integrated health care system dedicated to Alabama
veterans and their immediate families.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Chapter 5B is added to Title 31, Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§31-5B-1
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the
following meanings:
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following meanings:
(1) BOARD. The State Board of Veterans Affairs.
(2) COMMISSIONER. The Chief Executive Officer of the
State Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(4) PLAN. The comprehensive plan, as may be amended
from time to time, of the Alabama Department of Veterans
Affairs to establish and operate a statewide integrated health
care system dedicated to Alabama veterans and their immediate
families to deliver primary care, behavioral health care, and
social services.
(5) VETERAN.
a. Any individual who served in the active military,
naval, air, or space forces of the United States who was
discharged or released under conditions other than
dishonorable.
b. Any individual who is entitled, under Title 10
U.S.C. Chapter 1223, to retired pay for nonregular service or,
but for age, would be entitled under that chapter to retired
pay for nonregular service.
§31-5B-2
The department, acting through its board and its
commissioner, shall establish an integrated health care system
dedicated to Alabama veterans and their immediate families to
provide coordination of care in primary care, behavioral
health care, and social services.
(1) The department shall create and implement a
comprehensive plan to deliver primary care, behavioral health
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comprehensive plan to deliver primary care, behavioral health
care, and social services to veterans statewide and to
establish programs and priorities for organizational and
administrative purposes in accordance with the plan.
(2) The department shall establish, supervise, and
coordinate standards for all operations and activities
necessary or required to develop and deliver integrated
primary care, behavioral health care, and social services to
veterans in accordance with the plan and may do all of the
following:
a. Adopt rules and policies to carry out its duties in
accordance with the plan.
b. Receive and administer any funds available from any
federal, state, or private source for the purpose of
delivering services to veterans in accordance with the plan.
c. Acquire, receive, take title to, purchase, gift,
lease, devise or otherwise, to hold, keep, and develop, and to
transfer, convey, lease, assign, or otherwise dispose of
property of every kind and character, and any and every
interest therein, to or from any individual or organization.
d. Undertake and to make or cause to be made, either
singly or in conjunction or cooperation with others,
appropriate studies, surveys, arrangements, undertakings, and
construction designs and plans, and supervision relating to,
directly or indirectly, the restoration, renovation,
improvement, or maintenance of any property for the purpose of
implementing any portion of the plan.
e. Make, enter into, and execute contracts, agreements,
leases, and other legal arrangements, and to take any other
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leases, and other legal arrangements, and to take any other
steps and actions as may be necessary or appropriate to
implement any portion of the plan.
f. Borrow money for any purpose necessary or
appropriate to implement the plan.
g. Invest any of its funds not presently necessary for
operations in bonds, bills, or notes of the United States,
bonds of the state, and interest-bearing deposits in banks and
savings and loan institutions.
h. Provide for any insurance required or advisable in
the discretion of the board.
i. Establish and maintain reasonable minimum policies
and standards for the employment of professional and
administrative staff and the admission, diagnosis, care, and
treatment of patients in facilities operated in accordance
with the plan.
j. Establish and maintain reasonable minimum standards
for the maintenance and preservation of patient records,
including minimum standards for maintaining patient
confidentiality, in facilities operated in accordance with the
plan.
k. Enter into contracts with any person, state or
federal agency, or organization capable of contracting for
equipment, goods, and services necessary to carry out the
terms of the plan.
l. Cooperate with the United States and any federal
agency, including the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, and the State of Alabama, and any county or
municipality of the state, to make and enter into contracts
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municipality of the state, to make and enter into contracts
and all manner of legal arrangements to obtain money by way of
loans, grants, or payments, or property, or other forms of
assistance as the board may deem advisable in its discretion
to implement the terms of the plan.
m. Carry out all of its functions, exercise all of its
powers, and conduct all of its business and affairs without
regard to Sections 41-16-50 through 41-16-63, or any similar
law pertaining to competitive bidding, which might otherwise
be applicable.
n. Create and appoint members of advisory committees as
needed from those leaders in primary care, behavioral health
care, social services, and from the public generally,
including veterans, to advise the department in regard to
plans, programs, and rules pertaining to the plan and its
implementation. The members of advisory committees shall be
entitled to be reimbursed for mileage expenses, not to exceed
the amount prescribed by state law.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2024.
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