General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5754
January Session, 2013 LCO No. 4094
*_____HB05754VA_HS_031213____*
Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Introduced by:
(VA)
General Assembly
Committee Bill No. 5754
January Session, 2013
LCO No. 4094
*_____HB05754VA_HS_031213____*
Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Introduced by:
(VA)
AN ACT CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 27-102l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) In addition to the powers and duties prescribed under section 4-8, the commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To prepare studies and collect information concerning facilities and services available to members of the armed forces, veterans, their spouses or eligible dependents, including facilities and services for veterans who may have been exposed to a Vietnam herbicide during their periods of military service;
(2) To conduct interviews in the nursing homes or hospitals throughout the state to determine the number of veterans admitted and ascertaining which benefits such veterans are currently receiving and are entitled to receive;
(3) To cooperate with service agencies and organizations throughout the state in disseminating and furnishing counsel and assistance of benefit to residents of this state who are or have been members of the armed forces, their spouses or eligible dependents, which will indicate the availability of: (A) Educational training and retraining facilities; (B) health, medical, rehabilitation and housing services and facilities; (C) employment and reemployment services; (D) provisions of federal, state and local laws affording financial rights, privileges and benefits; and (E) other matters of similar nature;
(4) To assist veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents and family members in the preparation, presentation, proof and establishment of such claims, privileges, rights and other benefits accruing to them under federal, state and local laws;
(5) To cooperate with all national, state and local governmental and private agencies securing or offering services or any benefits to veterans, their spouses or dependents;
(6) To develop and prepare a long-range plan and mission statement for the Veterans' Home and the veterans' advocacy and assistance unit; [and]
(7) To review all appeals made by veterans, their spouses or eligible dependents or family members and render the final decision thereon regarding the denial of admission to any program or the refusal to render any service or benefit which is administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the discharge or transfer from any such program or any disciplinary action taken while participating in any such program; and
(8) To develop, within available resources and in consultation with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Military Department, veterans' organizations and local veterans' advisory committees, an outreach program designed to inform veterans, members of the armed forces and their dependents and family members of existing federal and state mental health services available to such individuals, including, but not limited to, transitional behavioral health services available pursuant to section 17a-453d.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 from passage 27-102l(c)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
from passage
27-102l(c)
VA Joint Favorable C/R HS
VA
Joint Favorable C/R
HS