BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1965 By: Garcia, Josey Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that veterans face unique mental health needs related to their service to our country. While the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Military Veteran Peer Network offers struggling veterans the opportunity to connect with a trained peer support volunteer who shares their service background, a recent report by the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services identified the need to increase the number of peer service coordinators in the network, and particularly in rural communities, to meet the needs of veterans and their families. H.B. 1965 seeks to address this issue by requiring TVC to conduct a study in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission on strategies to improve access to mental health services through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1965 requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission, to conduct a study to evaluate strategies to improve and expand mental health services provided through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network. The bill requires the study to include recommendations on expanding the number of certified peer service coordinators who provide mental health services to service members, veterans, and their family members, and to focus on the provision of such coordinators in rural communities in Texas. H.B. 1965 requires TVC, not later than December 1, 2026, to prepare and submit a report to the legislature containing the findings of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1965
By: Garcia, Josey
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1965
By: Garcia, Josey
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that veterans face unique mental health needs related to their service to our country. While the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Military Veteran Peer Network offers struggling veterans the opportunity to connect with a trained peer support volunteer who shares their service background, a recent report by the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services identified the need to increase the number of peer service coordinators in the network, and particularly in rural communities, to meet the needs of veterans and their families. H.B. 1965 seeks to address this issue by requiring TVC to conduct a study in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission on strategies to improve access to mental health services through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1965 requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission, to conduct a study to evaluate strategies to improve and expand mental health services provided through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network. The bill requires the study to include recommendations on expanding the number of certified peer service coordinators who provide mental health services to service members, veterans, and their family members, and to focus on the provision of such coordinators in rural communities in Texas. H.B. 1965 requires TVC, not later than December 1, 2026, to prepare and submit a report to the legislature containing the findings of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that veterans face unique mental health needs related to their service to our country. While the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Military Veteran Peer Network offers struggling veterans the opportunity to connect with a trained peer support volunteer who shares their service background, a recent report by the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services identified the need to increase the number of peer service coordinators in the network, and particularly in rural communities, to meet the needs of veterans and their families. H.B. 1965 seeks to address this issue by requiring TVC to conduct a study in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission on strategies to improve access to mental health services through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1965 requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission, to conduct a study to evaluate strategies to improve and expand mental health services provided through TVC's Military Veteran Peer Network. The bill requires the study to include recommendations on expanding the number of certified peer service coordinators who provide mental health services to service members, veterans, and their family members, and to focus on the provision of such coordinators in rural communities in Texas.
H.B. 1965 requires TVC, not later than December 1, 2026, to prepare and submit a report to the legislature containing the findings of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.