BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3543 By: Menndez Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties report that the suicide rate for veterans, active duty service members, and members of the Texas National Guard is alarming. Such parties contend that it is vital to assist government officials who regularly come in contact with veterans, such as veterans county service officers, in recognizing suicide warning signs and obtaining help for an affected veteran. H.B. 3543 seeks to assist the Texas Veterans Commission to improve veteran county service officers' suicide prevention skills. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 3543 amends the Government Code to remove a requirement that the members of the Texas Veterans Commission approve the course materials, training curriculum, and examinations for veterans county service officer certification and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation before the commission is authorized to distribute the materials and administer examinations. The bill requires the commission to coordinate with the Department of State Health Services to incorporate a suicide prevention component as part of the accreditation training and examination for a veterans county service officer. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3543
By: Menndez
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3543
By: Menndez
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties report that the suicide rate for veterans, active duty service members, and members of the Texas National Guard is alarming. Such parties contend that it is vital to assist government officials who regularly come in contact with veterans, such as veterans county service officers, in recognizing suicide warning signs and obtaining help for an affected veteran. H.B. 3543 seeks to assist the Texas Veterans Commission to improve veteran county service officers' suicide prevention skills.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 3543 amends the Government Code to remove a requirement that the members of the Texas Veterans Commission approve the course materials, training curriculum, and examinations for veterans county service officer certification and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation before the commission is authorized to distribute the materials and administer examinations. The bill requires the commission to coordinate with the Department of State Health Services to incorporate a suicide prevention component as part of the accreditation training and examination for a veterans county service officer.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties report that the suicide rate for veterans, active duty service members, and members of the Texas National Guard is alarming. Such parties contend that it is vital to assist government officials who regularly come in contact with veterans, such as veterans county service officers, in recognizing suicide warning signs and obtaining help for an affected veteran. H.B. 3543 seeks to assist the Texas Veterans Commission to improve veteran county service officers' suicide prevention skills.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 3543 amends the Government Code to remove a requirement that the members of the Texas Veterans Commission approve the course materials, training curriculum, and examinations for veterans county service officer certification and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation before the commission is authorized to distribute the materials and administer examinations. The bill requires the commission to coordinate with the Department of State Health Services to incorporate a suicide prevention component as part of the accreditation training and examination for a veterans county service officer.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2013.