Bill Text: TX HB114 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7)

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [HB114 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB114-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 114

AN ACT
relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran
mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. TRANSFER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
SECTION 1.01. The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 434,
Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. [STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF] MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FOR VETERANS
SECTION 1.02. Section 1001.222, Health and Safety Code, is
transferred to Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,
redesignated as Section 434.3515, Government Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.3515 [1001.222]. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR
VETERANS: ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS [GENERAL POWERS
AND DUTIES]. (a) The commission [department] shall develop and
administer a mental health [intervention] program for veterans.
The program must include:
(1) peer-to-peer counseling;
(2) access to licensed mental health professionals for
peer service coordinators and peers;
(3) training approved by the commission [department]
for peer service coordinators, licensed mental health
professionals, and peers;
(4) technical assistance for peer service
coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers;
(5) identification, retention, and screening of
community-based licensed mental health professionals;
(6) suicide prevention training for peer service
coordinators and peers;
(7) veteran jail diversion services, including
veterans treatment courts; and
(8) coordination of mental health first aid for
veterans training to veterans and immediate family members of
veterans.
(b) [(a-1)] As part of the mental health [intervention]
program for veterans, the commission [department] shall develop:
(1) a women veterans mental health initiative; and[.]
(2) [(a-2) As part of the mental health intervention
program for veterans, the department shall develop] a rural
veterans mental health initiative.
(c) [(b)] The commission [department] shall solicit and
ensure that specialized training is provided to persons who are
peers and who want to provide peer-to-peer counseling or other
peer-to-peer services under the program.
[(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary
to implement this subchapter.]
SECTION 1.03. Sections 434.352(b) and (f), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(b) For the mental health program for veterans, the
commission shall:
(1) provide training to peer service coordinators and
peers in accordance with Section 434.353;
(2) provide technical assistance to peer service
coordinators and peers;
(3) identify, train, and communicate with
community-based licensed mental health professionals,
community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations;
(4) coordinate services for justice involved
veterans;
(5) coordinate local delivery to veterans and
immediate family members of veterans of mental health first aid for
veterans training; and
(6) employ and train mental health professionals to
assist [the Health and Human Services Commission] in the
administration of the program.
(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 1.04. Section 1001.224, Health and Safety Code, is
transferred to Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,
redesignated as Section 434.354, Government Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.354 [1001.224]. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than
December 1 of each year, the commission [department] shall submit a
report to the governor and the legislature that includes:
(1) the number of veterans who received services
through the mental health program for veterans;
(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators
trained;
(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this
subchapter; and
(4) recommendations for program improvements.
SECTION 1.05. Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 434.355 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.355. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to
administer this subchapter.
ARTICLE 2. TRANSFER OF TEXAS VETERANS AND FAMILY ALLIANCE GRANT
PROGRAM
SECTION 2.01. Subchapter G, Chapter 547, Government Code,
is transferred to Chapter 434, Government Code, redesignated as
Subchapter J, Government Code, and amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J [G]. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAMS ASSISTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Sec. 434.421 [547.0301]. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this
subchapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Executive director" means the executive director
of the commission or the executive director's designee.
(3) "Matching [, "matching] grant program" means the
matching grant program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 434.422 [547.0302]. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. To the
extent funds are appropriated to the commission for that purpose,
the commission shall establish a matching grant program to support
community mental health programs that provide services and
treatment to veterans and their families.
Sec. 434.423 [547.0303]. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED.
(a) The commission shall ensure that each grant recipient obtains
or secures contributions to match a grant awarded to the recipient
in amounts of money or other consideration as required by Section
434.424 [547.0304] or 434.425 [547.0305].
(b) The money or other consideration obtained or secured by
the commission may, as the executive director [commissioner]
determines, include cash or in-kind contributions from private
contributors or local governments but may not include state or
federal funds.
Sec. 434.424 [547.0304]. MATCHING GRANT CONDITIONS: SINGLE
COUNTIES. For services and treatment provided in a single county,
the commission shall condition each grant provided under this
subchapter on a potential grant recipient providing funds from
non-state sources in a total amount at least equal to:
(1) 25 percent of the grant amount if the community
mental health program to be supported by the grant provides
services and treatment in a county with a population of less than
100,000;
(2) 50 percent of the grant amount if the community
mental health program to be supported by the grant provides
services and treatment in a county with a population of 100,000 or
more but less than 250,000; or
(3) 100 percent of the grant amount if the community
mental health program to be supported by the grant provides
services and treatment in a county with a population of 250,000 or
more.
Sec. 434.425 [547.0305]. MATCHING GRANT CONDITIONS:
MULTIPLE COUNTIES. For a community mental health program that
provides services and treatment in more than one county, the
commission shall condition each grant provided under this
subchapter on a potential grant recipient providing funds from
non-state sources in a total amount at least equal to:
(1) 25 percent of the grant amount if the county with
the largest population in which the community mental health program
to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment has a
population of less than 100,000;
(2) 50 percent of the grant amount if the county with
the largest population in which the community mental health program
to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment has a
population of 100,000 or more but less than 250,000; or
(3) 100 percent of the grant amount if the county with
the largest population in which the community mental health program
to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment has a
population of 250,000 or more.
Sec. 434.426 [547.0306]. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS;
APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS. (a) The commission shall select grant
recipients based on the submission of applications or proposals by
nonprofit and governmental entities.
(b) The executive director [commissioner] shall develop
criteria for evaluating the applications or proposals and the
selection of grant recipients. The selection criteria must:
(1) evaluate and score:
(A) fiscal controls for the project;
(B) project effectiveness;
(C) project cost; and
(D) an applicant's previous experience with
grants and contracts;
(2) address the possibility of and method for making
multiple awards; and
(3) include other factors that the executive director
[commissioner] considers relevant.
Sec. 434.427 [547.0307]. USE OF GRANTS AND MATCHING
AMOUNTS. A grant awarded under the matching grant program must be
used for the sole purpose of supporting community mental health
programs that:
(1) provide mental health services and treatment to
veterans and their families; and
(2) coordinate mental health services for veterans and
their families with other transition support services.
Sec. 434.428 [547.0308]. DISTRIBUTING AND ALLOCATING
APPROPRIATED MONEY. (a) As the executive director [commissioner]
authorizes, the commission shall disburse money appropriated to or
obtained by the commission for the matching grant program directly
to grant recipients.
(b) The commission may use a reasonable amount not to exceed
five percent of the money appropriated by the legislature for the
purposes of this subchapter to pay the administrative costs of
implementing this subchapter.
Sec. 434.429 [547.0309]. RULES. The commission [executive
commissioner] shall adopt rules necessary to implement the matching
grant program.
ARTICLE 3. TRANSFER OF VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
SECTION 3.01. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
Sec. 434.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Texas Veterans Commission.
SECTION 3.02. Section 547.0004, Government Code, is
transferred to Subchapter K, Chapter 434, Government Code, as added
by this Act, redesignated as Section 434.452, Government Code, and
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 434.452 [547.0004]. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION
PLAN. (a) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas
Coordinating Council for Veterans Services, the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Service Members, Veterans, and
their Families Technical Assistance Center Implementation Academy
of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of
the United States Department of Health and Human Services, veteran
advocacy groups, health care providers, and any other organization
or interested party the commission considers appropriate, shall
develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and
availability of professional veteran health services to prevent
veteran suicides.
(b) The action plan must:
(1) identify opportunities for raising awareness of
and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention;
(2) identify opportunities to increase access to
veteran mental health services;
(3) identify funding resources to provide accessible,
affordable veteran mental health services;
(4) provide measures to expand public-private
partnerships to ensure access to quality, timely mental health
services;
(5) provide for proactive outreach measures to reach
veterans needing care;
(6) provide for peer-to-peer service coordination,
including training, certification, recertification, and continuing
education for peer coordinators; and
(7) address suicide prevention awareness, measures,
and training regarding veterans involved in the justice system.
(c) The commission shall make specific long-term statutory,
administrative, and budget-related recommendations to the
legislature and the governor regarding the policy initiatives and
reforms necessary to implement the action plan developed under this
section. The initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be
fully implemented by September 1, 2027.
(d) The commission shall include in the commission's
strategic plan under Chapter 2056 the plans for implementing the
long-term recommendations under Subsection (c).
(e) This subchapter [section] expires September 1, 2027.
ARTICLE 4. REPEALER; TRANSITIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 4.01. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 434.352(a), Government Code;
(2) the heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health
and Safety Code;
(3) Section 1001.221, Health and Safety Code; and
(4) Section 1001.225, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 4.02. (a) On the effective date of this Act, the
following are transferred from the Health and Human Services
Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission:
(1) the powers, duties, functions, programs, and
activities of the Health and Human Services Commission relating to
the mental health programs under Subchapters H, J, and K, Chapter
434, Government Code, as redesignated by this Act;
(2) any obligations and contracts of the Health and
Human Services Commission that are directly related to a power,
duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act;
and
(3) all property and records in the custody of the
Health and Human Services Commission that are related to a power,
duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act and
all funds appropriated by the legislature for that power, duty,
function, program, or activity.
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas
Veterans Commission shall establish a plan for the transfer of
personnel whose functions predominantly involve a power, duty,
function, program, or activity transferred under this Act.
SECTION 4.03. It is the intent of the 89th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2025, that Sections 434.424 and 434.425,
Government Code, as redesignated by this Act from Sections 547.0304
and 547.0305, Government Code, respectively, be harmonized with
S.B. No. 897 or another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2025, relating to the administration of a grant program to
support community mental health programs assisting veterans and
their families, with respect to the percentage of funds from
non-state sources that a potential grant recipient must provide.
SECTION 4.04. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 114 was passed by the House on April
29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 114 on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 0, 1
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 114 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor