Bill Text: TX SB578 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas Senate Bill 578 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the creation by the Health and Human Services Commission of a veteran suicide prevention action plan.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-09 - Effective immediately [SB578 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB578-Enrolled.html



	S.B. No. 578




	AN ACT
	relating to the creation by the Health and Human Services
	Commission of a veteran suicide prevention action plan.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.0999. 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, medical 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 short-term and
	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 short-term recommendations
	must include a plan for state implementation beginning not later
	than September 1, 2019. The initiatives and reforms in the
	short-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2021. The
	long-term recommendations must include a plan for state
	implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2021. The
	initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be fully
	implemented by September 1, 2027.
	(d) The commission shall include in its strategic plan under
	Chapter 2056 the plans for implementation of the short-term and
	long-term recommendations under Subsection (c).
	(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.
	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, 2017.






	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 578 passed the Senate on
	March 28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
	May 27, 2017, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 28, 2017, House
	granted request of the Senate; May 28, 2017, Senate adopted
	Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
	Nays 0.


	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 578 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146,
	Nays 0, two present not voting; May 28, 2017, House granted request
	of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
	May 28, 2017, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
	following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.


	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House



	Approved:

	______________________________
	Date


	______________________________
	Governor