By: Nelson, Hinojosa S.B. No. 1325
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a mental health intervention program
for military veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.076 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.076. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS. (a) In
this section, "veteran" means a person who:
(1) has served in:
(A) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or
marine corps of the United States;
(B) the state military forces as defined by
Section 431.001, Government Code; or
(C) an auxiliary service of one of those branches
of the armed forces; and
(2) has been honorably discharged from the branch of
the service in which the person served.
(b) The department shall develop a mental health
intervention program for veterans. The program must provide for
peer-to-peer counseling.
(c) The department shall solicit and train volunteers to
provide the peer-to-peer counseling.
SECTION 2. The Department of State Health Services shall
develop the mental health intervention program for veterans as
required by Section 1001.076, Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act, not later than January 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.