| 1 | 1 | | 85R12964 JG-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Blanco H.B. No. 3556 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the mental health program for veterans. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 434.351, Government Code, is amended by |
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| 10 | 10 | | adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (2-a) "Peer service coordinator" means a person who |
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| 12 | 12 | | recruits and retains veterans, peers, and volunteers to participate |
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| 13 | 13 | | in the mental health program for veterans and related activities. |
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| 14 | 14 | | SECTION 2. Section 434.352(b), Government Code, is amended |
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| 15 | 15 | | to read as follows: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) For the mental health program for veterans, the |
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| 17 | 17 | | commission shall: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) provide training to peer service [volunteer] |
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| 19 | 19 | | coordinators and peers in accordance with Section 434.353; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) provide technical assistance to peer service |
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| 21 | 21 | | [volunteer] coordinators and peers; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (3) identify [recruit], train, and communicate with |
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| 23 | 23 | | community-based licensed mental health professionals [therapists], |
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| 24 | 24 | | community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (4) coordinate services for justice involved |
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| 26 | 26 | | veterans. |
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| 27 | 27 | | SECTION 3. Section 434.353(a), Government Code, is amended |
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| 28 | 28 | | to read as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (a) The commission shall develop and implement methods for |
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| 30 | 30 | | providing peer service [volunteer] coordinator certification |
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| 31 | 31 | | training to peer service [volunteer] coordinators, including |
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| 32 | 32 | | providing training for initial certification and recertification |
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| 33 | 33 | | and providing continuing education. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 4. Section 1001.221, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 35 | 35 | | amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1-a) "Peer service coordinator" means a person who |
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| 37 | 37 | | recruits and retains veterans, peers, and volunteers to participate |
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| 38 | 38 | | in the mental health program for veterans and related activities. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 5. Section 1001.222(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 40 | 40 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 41 | 41 | | (a) The department shall develop a mental health |
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| 42 | 42 | | intervention program for veterans. The program must include: |
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| 43 | 43 | | (1) peer-to-peer counseling; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (2) access to licensed mental health professionals for |
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| 45 | 45 | | peer service [volunteer] coordinators and peers; |
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| 46 | 46 | | (3) training approved by the department for peer |
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| 47 | 47 | | service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and |
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| 48 | 48 | | peers; |
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| 49 | 49 | | (4) technical assistance for peer service [volunteer] |
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| 50 | 50 | | coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers; |
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| 51 | 51 | | (5) identification [grants to regional and local |
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| 52 | 52 | | organizations providing services under this subchapter; |
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| 53 | 53 | | [(6) recruitment], retention, and screening of |
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| 54 | 54 | | community-based licensed mental health professionals [therapists]; |
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| 55 | 55 | | (6) [(7)] suicide prevention training for peer |
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| 56 | 56 | | service [volunteer] coordinators and peers; and |
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| 57 | 57 | | (7) [(8)] veteran jail diversion services, including |
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| 58 | 58 | | veterans treatment courts. |
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| 59 | 59 | | SECTION 6. Section 1001.224, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 60 | 60 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 61 | 61 | | Sec. 1001.224. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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| 62 | 62 | | each year, the department shall submit a report to the governor and |
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| 63 | 63 | | the legislature that includes: |
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| 64 | 64 | | (1) the number of veterans who received services |
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| 65 | 65 | | through the mental health program for veterans; |
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| 66 | 66 | | (2) the number of peers and peer service [volunteer] |
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| 67 | 67 | | coordinators trained; |
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| 68 | 68 | | (3) [a summary of the grants awarded and services |
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| 69 | 69 | | provided through those grants; |
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| 70 | 70 | | [(4)] an evaluation of the services provided under |
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| 71 | 71 | | this subchapter; and |
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| 72 | 72 | | (4) [(5)] recommendations for program improvements. |
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| 73 | 73 | | SECTION 7. The following laws are repealed: |
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| 74 | 74 | | (1) Section 434.351(4), Government Code; |
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| 75 | 75 | | (2) Section 1001.221(3), Health and Safety Code; and |
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| 76 | 76 | | (3) Section 1001.223, Health and Safety Code. |
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| 77 | 77 | | SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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