By: Lopez of Bexar, Hunter, Hefner, et al. H.B. No. 39
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to information and data regarding the incidence of veteran
deaths in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 193.006, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to
read as follows:
(d) When the death certificate of a person to which this
section applies is filed with the vital statistics unit, the
department [state registrar] shall submit to [notify] the Texas
Veterans Commission deidentified information on the person's:
(1) manner of death, only if the death was by suicide
or homicide;
(2) age;
(3) race;
(4) previous use of psychotropic drugs;
(5) sex; and
(6) occupation.
(e) Not later than September 1 of each year, the Texas
Veterans Commission shall prepare and submit to the standing
committees of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
veterans affairs and publish on the commission's Internet website a
written report that contains:
(1) aggregated data based on the information the
commission receives under Subsection (d) for the preceding year;
(2) an evaluation of that data; and
(3) any recommendations for legislative or other
action.
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2027, the Texas
Veterans Commission shall prepare and submit the initial report
required by Section 193.006(e), Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.