Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2903 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/29/2021

                    87R22206 GCB-D
 By: Raymond, Guillen H.B. No. 2903
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2903:
 By:  Raymond C.S.H.B. No. 2903


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to an instruction 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.  INSTRUCTION GUIDE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND
 CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. (a) The
 commission and the Texas Veterans Commission jointly shall produce
 and make publicly available an instruction guide for family members
 and caregivers of veterans who have mental health disorders.
 (b)  The instruction 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 commission 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.