Bill Caption

Relating to mental health and preventive services programs for veterans' and military families.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB19, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($3,615,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. 

Bill Analysis

This legislation amends the Human Resources Code to require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to develop and implement a preventive services program. The bill requires the Commission to:

• Provide training to volunteer coordinators and peers.
• Recruit, train, and communicate with community-based therapists, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations.
• Implement an initiative to encourage local communities to conduct cross-sector collaboration to synchronize locally accessible resources available for veterans and military service members.
• The local community committee would need to develop a plan to identify and support the needs of veterans and military service members residing in their community.

Also, this legislation would require the Executive Commissioner to provide appropriate facilities to support and implement this program, to the extent funding is available.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We are neutral on this legislation. While we are supportive of preventative care for our veterans, and the idea behind these measures is to prevent higher costs involved in emergency care in an immediate situation by establishing treatment, and assistance earlier; the results of effectiveness in their intentions of this goal is uncertain. However, we appreciate the efforts of this legislation to reduce costs, and would like to see the results of this program to reduce emergency costs. For that reason, we remain neutral.