Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2903 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/04/2021

                    87R7063 GCB-D
 By: Raymond H.B. No. 2903


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to an educational training guide for family members and
 caregivers of veterans who have mental health disorders.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
 amended by adding Section 531.0932 to read as follows:
 Sec. 531.0932.  TRAINING GUIDE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND
 CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. (a)  The
 commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Texas
 Veterans Commission jointly shall produce and make publicly
 available an educational training guide for family members and
 caregivers of veterans who have mental health disorders.
 (b)  The educational training guide produced under this
 section must include:
 (1)  general education about different mental health
 disorders, including instruction intended to improve understanding
 about the experience of persons suffering from those mental health
 disorders;
 (2)  techniques for handling crisis situations and
 administering mental health first aid to persons suffering from
 mental health disorders;
 (3)  techniques for coping with the stress of living
 with a person with a mental health disorder; and
 (4)  information about related services available for
 family members and caregivers of veterans who have mental health
 disorders that are provided by the commission, the Texas Veterans
 Commission, other state agencies, community organizations, and
 mental health services providers.
 (c)  The Department of State Health Services and the Texas
 Veterans Commission each shall publish the guide produced under
 this section on the respective agency's Internet website.
 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, 2021.