Bill: HB 19, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
House Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Susan King
Co-Author(s)
Cindy Burkett
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.
