Guillen Veterans Bill Steers PTSD Grants To One At-Home Treatment

The text as introduced · 472 words

89R841 MPF-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 381

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program awarding grants for the provision of

personalized treatment protocols for veterans diagnosed with

post-traumatic stress disorder.

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. VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE POST-TRAUMATIC

STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT

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 a nonprofit veterans organization, shall establish and operate

a pilot program to award grants for the provision of personalized

treatment protocols to at least 250 veterans diagnosed with

post-traumatic stress disorder, including treatment-resistant

post-traumatic stress disorder.

(b) A personalized treatment protocol provided to a veteran

under the pilot program must be:

(1) administered at the veteran's home; and

(2) designed to reduce neuroinflammation and

replenish deficient or insufficient brain chemistry to an optimal

level.

(c) 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 veterans is accomplished and the

state receives the return benefit.

(d) 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, 2030, 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 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, 2031.

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.