H.B. No. 1457
AN ACT
relating to required military informed care or military cultural
competency training for certain personnel of entities that provide
mental health services to veterans or veterans' families before
award of a state agency grant.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 434.352, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
(e) A state agency may not award a grant to an entity for the
provision of mental health services to veterans or veterans'
families unless the entity demonstrates the entity:
(1) has previously received and successfully executed
a grant from the state agency; or
(2) provides training on military informed care or
military cultural competency to entity personnel who provide mental
health services to veterans or veterans' families or requires those
personnel to complete military competency training provided by any
of the following:
(A) the commission;
(B) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(C) the Military Veteran Peer Network;
(D) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration within the United States Department of
Health and Human Services;
(E) the United States Department of Defense;
(F) the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs; or
(G) a nonprofit organization that is exempt from
federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3)
of that code, with experience in providing training or technical
assistance to entities that provide mental health services to
veterans or veterans' families.
(f) The commission and the Department of State Health
Services shall jointly verify that each state agency authorized to
award a grant subject to the requirements of Subsection (e) has
adopted policies to ensure compliance with Subsection (e).
SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1001,
Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES [PROGRAM] FOR VETERANS
SECTION 3. Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.225 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.225. LIMITATION ON GRANTS. The department may
not award a grant to an entity for the provision of mental health
services to veterans or veterans' families unless the entity
demonstrates the entity:
(1) has previously received and successfully executed
a grant from the department; or
(2) provides training on military informed care or
military cultural competency to entity personnel who provide
mental health services to veterans or veterans' families or
requires those personnel to complete military competency training
provided by any of the following:
(A) the Texas Veterans Commission;
(B) the commission;
(C) the Military Veteran Peer Network;
(D) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration within the United States Department of
Health and Human Services;
(E) the United States Department of Defense;
(F) the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs; or
(G) a nonprofit organization that is exempt from
federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3)
of that code, with experience in providing training or technical
assistance to entities that provide mental health services to
veterans or veterans' families.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1457 was passed by the House on May 8,
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 18, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1457 was passed by the Senate on May
19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor