Bill Text: MI HB4954 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Veterans: benefits; joint advisory committee concerning initiative to increase awareness of veterans' benefits; establish between departments of health and human services and military and veterans affairs. Amends 1965 PA 380 (MCL 16.101 - 16.608) by adding sec. 130. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4955'21
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-02 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/01/2021 [HB4954 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-HB4954-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 4954
A bill to amend 1965 PA 380, entitled
"Executive organization act of 1965,"
(MCL 16.101 to 16.608) by adding section 130.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 130. (1) The department shall partner with the department of health and human services to establish a joint advisory committee to develop and implement the initiative described in subsection (2). Committee formation and membership must be jointly determined by the department and the department of health and human services.
(2) The committee shall develop and implement an initiative to increase awareness among the veterans and family members of veterans of this state of the programs and benefits for which they may be eligible as veterans and family members of veterans. All of the following apply to the initiative described in this subsection:
(a) The initiative must have the title, "Ask the Question".
(b) The object of the initiative is to encourage public and private agencies and organizations in the provider sector, including, but not limited to, health care, social services, and education, to ask the members of the populations they serve at the point of contact, "Have you or a member of your family served in the military?".
(c) The committee shall encourage the agencies and organizations described in subdivision (b) to provide an individual who answers the question described in subdivision (b) affirmatively with verbal guidance and printed information, developed and distributed by the committee, regarding state and federal programs or benefits that may be available to the individual as a veteran, or as a family member of a veteran, including general information regarding how and where to apply for or participate in those programs or benefits.
(d) The committee shall provide advice and guidance to the agencies and organizations described in subdivision (b) regarding best practices for directing a veteran, or a family member of a veteran, to a specific veterans' program or benefit that may be of assistance to the veteran, or the family member of a veteran, in regard to his or her specific need.
(3) The printed information distributed under subsection (2)(c) must include a conspicuously placed disclaimer stating that the provision of guidance or information regarding veterans' programs and benefits that may be available to the individual receiving that guidance or information is for informational purposes only and is not an indication or determination of eligibility for those programs or benefits.
(4) The department may share with the department of health and human services information in its possession that is related to the needs of veterans and family members of veterans if necessary to facilitate the initiative described in this section, unless sharing that information is a violation of a state or federal law concerning privacy.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) "Committee" means the joint advisory committee established under subsection (1).
(b) "Department" means the department of military and veterans affairs.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No.4955 (request no. 02658'21) of the 101st Legislature is enacted into law.
