SB2926 - Relating to the transition of certain veterans' mental health initiatives from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission.

      By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 2926          (In the Senate - Filed March 14, 2025; April 7, 2025, read   first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs;   April 24, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,   Nays 0; April 24, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the transition of certain veterans' mental health   initiatives from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to   the Texas Veterans Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 434.0172 to read as follows:           Sec.   434.0172.     GRANT PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR   VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (a) To the extent funds are   appropriated to the commission for that purpose, the commission   shall establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting   community mental health programs providing services and treatment   to veterans and their families.           (b)     The commission shall ensure that each grant recipient   obtains or secures contributions to match awarded grants in amounts   of money or other consideration. The money or other consideration   obtained or secured by the commission may, as determined by the   executive director, include cash or in-kind contributions from   private contributors or local governments but may not include state   or federal funds.           (c)     Money appropriated to, or obtained by, the commission   for the grant program must be disbursed directly to grant   recipients by the commission, as authorized by the executive   director.           (c-1)     For services and treatment provided in a single   county, the commission shall condition each grant provided under   this section 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.           (c-2)     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 section 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.           (d)     All grants awarded under the grant program must be used   for the sole purpose of supporting community programs that provide   mental health care services and treatment to veterans and their   families and that coordinate mental health care services for   veterans and their families with other transition support services.           (e)     The commission shall select grant recipients based on   the submission of applications or proposals by nonprofit and   governmental entities.   The executive director shall develop   criteria for the evaluation of those 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   considers relevant.           (f)     A reasonable amount not to exceed five percent of the   money appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of this   section may be used by the commission to pay administrative costs of   implementing this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 434.352, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 434.352.   GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The   commission [ and the Health and Human Services Commission ] shall   [ coordinate to ] administer the mental health program for veterans   developed under this chapter [ Chapter 1001, Health and Safety   Code ].           (a-1)  The mental health program for veterans 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 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)  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   administer [ assist the Health and Human Services Commission in the   administration of ] the program ;                 (7)     develop a rural veterans mental health initiative   and a women veterans mental health initiative; and                 (8)     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)  Subject to Section 434.3525, the executive director of   the commission shall appoint a program director to administer the   mental health program for veterans.          (d)  The commission shall provide appropriate facilities in   support of the mental health program for veterans to the extent   funding is available for that purpose.          (e)  A state agency may not award a grant to an entity for the   provision of mental health services to veterans or veterans'   families unless the entity demonstrates the entity:                (1)  has previously received and successfully executed   a grant from the state agency; or                (2)  provides training on military informed care or   military cultural competency to entity personnel who provide mental   health services to veterans or veterans' families or requires those   personnel to complete military competency training provided by any   of the following:                      (A)  the commission;                      (B)  the Health and Human Services Commission;                      (C)  the Military Veteran Peer Network;                      (D)  the Substance Abuse and Mental Health   Services Administration within the United States Department of   Health and Human Services;                      (E)  the United States Department of Defense;                      (F)  the United States Department of Veterans   Affairs; or                      (G)  a nonprofit organization that is exempt from   federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code   of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3)   of that code, with experience in providing training or technical   assistance to entities that provide mental health services to   veterans or veterans' families.          (f)  The commission and the Health and Human Services   Commission [ 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 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 434.354 to read as follows:           Sec.   434.354.   &#xA0 [Text truncated for display. 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