Relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission, the official text

H.B. No. 114

AN ACT

relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran

mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

ARTICLE 1. TRANSFER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS

SECTION 1.01. The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 434,

Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H. [STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF] MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

FOR VETERANS

SECTION 1.02. Section 1001.222, Health and Safety Code, is

transferred to Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,

redesignated as Section 434.3515, Government Code, and amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 434.3515 [1001.222]. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR

VETERANS: ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS [GENERAL POWERS

AND DUTIES]. (a) The commission [department] shall develop and

administer a mental health [intervention] program for veterans.

The program 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 [department]

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) [(a-1)] As part of the mental health [intervention]

program for veterans, the commission [department] shall develop:

(1) a women veterans mental health initiative; and[.]

(2) [(a-2) As part of the mental health intervention

program for veterans, the department shall develop] a rural

veterans mental health initiative.

(c) [(b)] The commission [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 executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary

to implement this subchapter.]

SECTION 1.03. Sections 434.352(b) and (f), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(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

assist [the Health and Human Services Commission] in the

administration of the program.

(f) The commission [and the 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 1.04. Section 1001.224, Health and Safety Code, is

transferred to Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,

redesignated as Section 434.354, Government Code, and amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 434.354 [1001.224]. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than

December 1 of each year, the commission [department] shall submit a

report to the governor and the legislature that includes:

(1) the number of veterans who received services

through the mental health program for veterans;

(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators

trained;

(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this

subchapter; and

(4) recommendations for program improvements.

SECTION 1.05. Subchapter H, Chapter 434, Government Code,

is amended by adding Section 434.355 to read as follows:

Sec. 434.355. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to

administer this subchapter.

ARTICLE 2. TRANSFER OF TEXAS VETERANS AND FAMILY ALLIANCE GRANT

PROGRAM

SECTION 2.01. Subchapter G, Chapter 547, Government Code,

is transferred to Chapter 434, Government Code, redesignated as

Subchapter J, Government Code, and amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J [G]. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL

HEALTH PROGRAMS ASSISTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Sec. 434.421 [547.0301]. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this

subchapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.

(2) "Executive director" means the executive director

of the commission or the executive director's designee.

(3) "Matching [, "matching] grant program" means the

matching grant program established under this subchapter.

Sec. 434.422 [547.0302]. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. To the

extent funds are appropriated to the commission for that purpose,

the commission shall establish a matching grant program to support

community mental health programs that provide services and

treatment to veterans and their families.

Sec. 434.423 [547.0303]. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED.

(a) The commission shall ensure that each grant recipient obtains

or secures contributions to match a grant awarded to the recipient

in amounts of money or other consideration as required by Section

434.424 [547.0304] or 434.425 [547.0305].

(b) The money or other consideration obtained or secured by

the commission may, as the executive director [commissioner]

determines, include cash or in-kind contributions from private

contributors or local governments but may not include state or

federal funds.

Sec. 434.424 [547.0304]. MATCHING GRANT CONDITIONS: SINGLE

COUNTIES. For services and treatment provided in a single county,

the commission shall condition each grant provided under this

subchapter 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.

Sec. 434.425 [547.0305]. MATCHING GRANT CONDITIONS:

MULTIPLE COUNTIES. 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

subchapter 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.

Sec. 434.426 [547.0306]. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS;

APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS. (a) The commission shall select grant

recipients based on the submission of applications or proposals by

nonprofit and governmental entities.

(b) The executive director [commissioner] shall develop

criteria for evaluating the 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

[commissioner] considers relevant.

Sec. 434.427 [547.0307]. USE OF GRANTS AND MATCHING

AMOUNTS. A grant awarded under the matching grant program must be

used for the sole purpose of supporting community mental health

programs that:

(1) provide mental health services and treatment to

veterans and their families; and

(2) coordinate mental health services for veterans and

their families with other transition support services.

Sec. 434.428 [547.0308]. DISTRIBUTING AND ALLOCATING

APPROPRIATED MONEY. (a) As the executive director [commissioner]

authorizes, the commission shall disburse money appropriated to or

obtained by the commission for the matching grant program directly

to grant recipients.

(b) The commission may use a reasonable amount not to exceed

five percent of the money appropriated by the legislature for the

purposes of this subchapter to pay the administrative costs of

implementing this subchapter.

Sec. 434.429 [547.0309]. RULES. The commission [executive

commissioner] shall adopt rules necessary to implement the matching

grant program.

ARTICLE 3. TRANSFER OF VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN

SECTION 3.01. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN

Sec. 434.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"

means the Texas Veterans Commission.

SECTION 3.02. Section 547.0004, Government Code, is

transferred to Subchapter K, Chapter 434, Government Code, as added

by this Act, redesignated as Section 434.452, Government Code, and

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 434.452 [547.0004]. 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, health care 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 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 initiatives and reforms in the long-term plan must be

fully implemented by September 1, 2027.

(d) The commission shall include in the commission's

strategic plan under Chapter 2056 the plans for implementing the

long-term recommendations under Subsection (c).

(e) This subchapter [section] expires September 1, 2027.

ARTICLE 4. REPEALER; TRANSITIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 4.01. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Section 434.352(a), Government Code;

(2) the heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1001, Health

and Safety Code;

(3) Section 1001.221, Health and Safety Code; and

(4) Section 1001.225, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 4.02. (a) On the effective date of this Act, the

following are transferred from the Health and Human Services

Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission:

(1) the powers, duties, functions, programs, and

activities of the Health and Human Services Commission relating to

the mental health programs under Subchapters H, J, and K, Chapter

434, Government Code, as redesignated by this Act;

(2) any obligations and contracts of the Health and

Human Services Commission that are directly related to a power,

duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act;

and

(3) all property and records in the custody of the

Health and Human Services Commission that are related to a power,

duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act and

all funds appropriated by the legislature for that power, duty,

function, program, or activity.

(b) The Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas

Veterans Commission shall establish a plan for the transfer of

personnel whose functions predominantly involve a power, duty,

function, program, or activity transferred under this Act.

SECTION 4.03. It is the intent of the 89th Legislature,

Regular Session, 2025, that Sections 434.424 and 434.425,

Government Code, as redesignated by this Act from Sections 547.0304

and 547.0305, Government Code, respectively, be harmonized with

S.B. No. 897 or another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular

Session, 2025, relating to the administration of a grant program to

support community mental health programs assisting veterans and

their families, with respect to the percentage of funds from

non-state sources that a potential grant recipient must provide.

SECTION 4.04. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 114 was passed by the House on April

29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 114 on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 0, 1

present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 114 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 21, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays

0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor