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  S.B. No. 1058
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to reintegration counseling services and related
  resources for military servicemembers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 431.001, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Servicemember" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 161.551, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 431.0291 to read as follows:
         Sec. 431.0291.  SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM. (a)  The
  department shall develop a program to provide referrals to
  servicemembers for reintegration services.
         (b)  The program shall:
               (1)  identify and make referrals to community-based
  organizations that have existing programs that provide
  reintegration services to servicemembers and their families;
               (2)  focus on early intervention and appropriate
  referral to promote the health of servicemembers and the children
  and other family members of the servicemembers;
               (3)  promote family cohesion and sustainability;
               (4)  be based on evidence-based best practices related
  to meeting the needs of servicemembers and the children and other
  family members of the servicemembers;
               (5)  be carried out, when appropriate, in a community
  setting through peer counseling and other means effective for
  community outreach;
               (6)  use existing service delivery facilities,
  including churches, National Guard Bureau family education
  facilities, and veterans centers and support facilities;
               (7)  use community-based and faith-based
  organizations;
               (8)  be developed and administered in a manner that
  promotes collaboration of service providers and results in the
  referral of servicemembers, their children, and other family
  members to the appropriate federal, state, and community services
  for which they are eligible; and
               (9)  provide information and referral services
  regarding the risks and consequences of trauma, including
  post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other
  conditions for which servicemembers are at risk.
         (c)  The department shall ensure that:
               (1)  each person who provides referrals to
  servicemembers under the referral program has received sufficient
  training to ensure that servicemembers receive accurate
  information; and
               (2)  servicemembers are notified in a timely manner
  about the service referral program.
         (d)  In developing the referral program, the department
  shall consult with the state military forces, the National Guard
  Bureau, the United States Veterans Health Administration, the Texas
  A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and The University
  of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
         SECTION 3.  Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 434.007.  DUTIES.  The commission shall:
               (1)  compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to
  benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families
  and dependents;
               (2)  collect information relating to services and
  facilities available to veterans;
               (3)  cooperate with veterans service agencies in the
  state;
               (4)  inform members and veterans of the armed forces,
  their families and dependents, and military and civilian
  authorities about the existence or availability of:
                     (A)  educational training and retraining
  facilities;
                     (B)  health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing
  services and facilities;
                     (C)  employment and reemployment services;
                     (D)  provisions of federal, state, and local law
  affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans
  of the armed forces and their families and dependents; and
                     (E)  other similar, related, or appropriate
  matters;
               (5)  assist veterans and their families and dependents
  in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges,
  rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local
  law;
               (6)  cooperate with all government and private agencies
  securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and
  dependents;
               (7)  investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or
  exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and
  recommend necessary legislation for full correction;
               (8)  coordinate the services and activities of state
  departments and divisions having services and resources affecting
  veterans or their families or dependents; [and]
               (9)  provide training and certification of veterans
  county service officers and assistant veterans county service
  officers in accordance with Section 434.038; and
               (10)  through surveys or other reasonable and accurate
  methods of estimation, collect and maintain for each county in the
  state the number of servicemembers and veterans residing in the
  county and annually update and publish the information on the
  commission's website.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.107 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.107.  DIRECTORY OF SERVICES.  (a)  The commission
  shall collaborate with and assist the Department of State Health
  Services and the Health and Human Services Commission in compiling
  and maintaining the directory of services established under Section
  161.552, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The commission shall provide the directory of services
  established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code, on the
  commission's website or through links appearing on the commission's
  website.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.093 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.093.  SERVICES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL. (a)  In
  this section, "servicemember" has the meaning assigned by Section
  161.551, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall ensure that each
  health and human services agency adopts policies and procedures
  that require the agency to:
               (1)  identify servicemembers who are seeking services
  from the agency during the agency's intake and eligibility
  determination process; and
               (2)  direct servicemembers seeking services to
  appropriate service providers, including the United States
  Veterans Health Administration, National Guard Bureau facilities,
  and other federal, state, and local service providers.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall make the directory of
  resources established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety
  Code, accessible to each health and human services agency.
         SECTION 6.   Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter U to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER U. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY
  PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES
         Sec. 161.551.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (3)  "Servicemember" means a resident of this state who
  is a member or former member of the state military forces or a
  component of the United States armed forces, including a reserve
  component.  In this section, "state military forces" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 431.001, Government Code.
         Sec. 161.552.  DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. (a)  The department
  and commission shall compile, maintain, and disseminate through the
  Texas Information and Referral Network and through other
  appropriate media, a directory of services and other resources,
  tools, and counseling programs available to servicemembers and
  their immediate family.
         (b)  The directory must include:
               (1)  information regarding counseling services that:
                     (A)  facilitate the reintegration of the
  servicemember into civilian and family life;
                     (B)  identify and treat stress disorders, trauma,
  and traumatic brain injury;
                     (C)  address parenting and family well-being,
  employment, and substance abuse issues; and
                     (D)  provide crisis intervention services;
               (2)  to the greatest degree possible in the judgment of
  the department, all private and public community, state, and
  national resources that protect and promote the health and
  well-being of servicemembers and their immediate family and that
  are accessible in the state directly or through electronic media,
  print media, or the Internet; and
               (3)  other resources that support the health of
  servicemembers and their families.
         (c)  The department and commission shall organize the
  directory in a manner that allows a person to locate services in a
  specific community in the state.
         (d)  The department and commission shall develop and
  maintain the directory in collaboration with local, state, and
  national private and government organizations, including:
               (1)  the United States Veterans Health Administration;
               (2)  the United States Department of Defense;
               (3)  the adjutant general's department;
               (4)  the Texas Veterans Commission; and
               (5)  other public and private national and
  community-based organizations that provide support to
  servicemembers and their families.
         (e)  The department shall provide the directory to the Texas
  Information and Referral Network of the commission in the time
  periods and in the manner and format specified by the Texas
  Information and Referral Network.
         (f)  The department shall provide the directory on the
  department's website or through links appearing on the department's
  website.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1058 passed the Senate on
  April 23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
  May 24, 2007, Senate refused to concur in House amendment and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2007, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 27, 2007, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 30,
  Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1058 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 144,
  Nays 0, two present not voting; May 26, 2007, House granted request
  of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 27, 2007, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor