| 1 | 1 | | 85R7059 JG-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Lucio S.B. No. 1862 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the development of initiatives to reduce veteran |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | suicides in this state. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. (a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | collaborate with the Department of State Health Services to: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | (1) identify proactive steps that can be taken through |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | agency rulemaking to strengthen the state's efforts to reduce |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | veteran suicides, including increasing suicide prevention training |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | requirements for mental health professionals; and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (2) develop for consideration by the legislature |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | initiatives and recommendations to reduce veteran suicides and |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | increase the availability of and access to mental health services, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | including suicide prevention services, for veterans in this state. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (b) Not later than November 1, 2017, the Texas Veterans |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | Commission and the Department of State Health Services shall begin |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | collaborating as described by Subsection (a) of this section. |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (c) Not later than November 1, 2018, the Texas Veterans |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | Commission and the Department of State Health Services shall submit |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | a written or electronic report to the governor and the legislature |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | on the steps identified and initiatives and recommendations |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | developed under Subsection (a) of this section. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2019. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|---|