By: Lucio, Hall S.B. No. 578
(In the Senate - Filed January 23, 2017; February 8, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs &
Border Security; March 22, 2017, reported adversely, with
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6,
Nays 0; March 22, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 578 By: Lucio
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation by the Health and Human Services
Commission of a veteran suicide prevention action plan.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0999. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN.
(a) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas Coordinating
Council for Veterans Services, the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families
Technical Assistance Center Implementation Academy of the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services, veteran
advocacy groups, medical providers, and any other organization or
interested party the commission considers appropriate, shall
develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and
availability of professional veteran health services to prevent
veteran suicides.
(b) The action plan must:
(1) identify opportunities for raising awareness of
and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention;
(2) identify opportunities to increase access to
veteran mental health services;
(3) identify funding resources to provide accessible,
affordable veteran mental health services;
(4) provide measures to expand public-private
partnerships to ensure access to quality, timely mental health
services;
(5) provide for proactive outreach measures to reach
veterans needing care;
(6) provide for peer-to-peer service coordination,
including training, certification, recertification, and continuing
education for peer coordinators; and
(7) address suicide prevention awareness, measures,
and training regarding veterans involved in the justice system.
(c) The commission shall make specific short-term and
long-term statutory, administrative, and budget-related
recommendations to the legislature and the governor regarding the
policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement the action
plan developed under this section. The short-term recommendations
must include a plan for state implementation beginning not later
than September 1, 2019. The initiatives and reforms in the
short-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2021. The
long-term recommendations must include a plan for state
implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2021. The
initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be fully
implemented by September 1, 2027.
(d) The commission shall include in its strategic plan under
Chapter 2056 the plans for implementation of the short-term and
long-term recommendations under Subsection (c).
(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.
* * * * *