Bill Text: TX HB755 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a women veterans mental health initiative within the mental health intervention program for veterans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-23 - Referred to Defense & Veterans' Affairs [HB755 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB755-Introduced.html
| 84R2702 LEH-D | ||
| By: Menéndez | H.B. No. 755 | |
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| relating to the creation of a women veterans mental health | ||
| initiative within the mental health intervention program for | ||
| veterans. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 1001.202, Health and Safety Code, as | ||
| added by Chapter 352 (H.B. 2392), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, | ||
| Regular Session, 2013, is reenacted and amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1001.202. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The | ||
| department shall develop a mental health intervention program for | ||
| veterans. The program must include: | ||
| (1) peer-to-peer counseling; | ||
| (2) access to licensed mental health professionals for | ||
| volunteer coordinators and peers; | ||
| (3) training approved by the department for peers; | ||
| (4) technical assistance for volunteer coordinators | ||
| and peers; | ||
| (5) grants to regional and local organizations | ||
| providing services under this subchapter; | ||
| (6) recruitment, retention, and screening of | ||
| community-based therapists; | ||
| (7) suicide prevention training for volunteer | ||
| coordinators and peers; and | ||
| (8) veteran jail diversion services, including | ||
| veterans courts. | ||
| (a-1) As part of the mental health intervention program for | ||
| veterans, the department shall develop a women veterans mental | ||
| health initiative. | ||
| (b) The 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 department may adopt rules necessary to implement | ||
| this subchapter. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
