Garcia Bill Sets Up Grants For Homeless Veteran Treatment Providers

The text as introduced · 549 words

89R10013 MPF-D

By: Garcia of Bexar
H.B. No. 2754

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program awarding grants for the provision of

personalized treatment protocols for homeless veterans diagnosed

with substance use disorders.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 49 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 49. PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Sec. 49.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Pilot program" means the pilot program

established under this chapter.

(2) "Veteran" means an individual who has served in:

(A) an active or reserve component of the army,

navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States;

or

(B) the Texas National Guard, as defined by

Section 431.001, Government Code.

Sec. 49.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) The commission, using available resources and in cooperation

with the Texas Veterans Commission, shall establish and operate a

pilot program to award grants for the provision of personalized

treatment protocols to at least 100 homeless veterans diagnosed

with a substance use disorder.

(b) A grant recipient under the pilot program must be able

to provide to a homeless veteran participating in a personalized

treatment protocol:

(1) mental health and substance use disorder treatment

services;

(2) medical detoxification or medical withdrawal

services;

(3) supportive housing for the duration of treatment;

(4) partial hospitalization; and

(5) intensive outpatient treatment.

(c) A grant recipient under the pilot program shall

collaborate with a local government or nonprofit organization to

connect homeless veterans participating in a personalized

treatment protocol with transitional housing resources, workforce

training, and long-term mental health and substance use disorder

treatment services that will be available to the veteran after

successfully completing the personalized treatment protocol.

(d) The commission may award a grant under the pilot program

only in accordance with a contract between the commission and a

grant recipient. The contract must include provisions under which

the commission is granted sufficient control to ensure the public

purpose of providing treatment to homeless veterans is accomplished

and the state receives the return benefit.

(e) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations

to operate the pilot program.

Sec. 49.003. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt

rules to implement this chapter.

Sec. 49.004. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2026, the

commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant

governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the

appropriate standing committees of the legislature a report that

includes:

(1) information on the number of homeless veterans who

were provided a personalized treatment protocol under the pilot

program; and

(2) an evaluation of the pilot program's

effectiveness.

Sec. 49.005. EXPIRATION. The pilot program concludes and

this chapter expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act:

(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement

Chapter 49, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act; and

(2) the Health and Human Services Commission shall

establish and begin operating the pilot program under Chapter 49,

Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.