grant program for veterans treatment courts, from existing fund

The text as introduced · 677 words

90R4124 JSC-D

By: Garcia of Bexar
H.B. No. 130

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program using money from the fund for veterans'

assistance to support and expand veterans treatment court programs

in this state.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 434.017(c) and (d), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(c) Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas

Veterans Commission. Money appropriated under this subsection

shall be used to:

(1) make grants to address veterans' needs;

(2) make grants to provide pro bono legal services to

veterans, active duty members of the United States armed forces,

and members of the state military forces;

(3) administer the fund; [ and ]

(4) analyze and investigate data received from the

federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS)

that is administered by the Administration for Children and

Families of the United States Department of Health and Human

Services ; and

(5) award grants under Subchapter L to support and

expand veterans treatment court programs in this state .

(d) The Texas Veterans Commission may adopt rules governing

the award of grants by the commission under this section and

Subchapter L . The commission shall adopt rules governing the award

of grants to veterans county service offices under Subsection

(c-3).

SECTION 2. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter L to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER L. GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND VETERANS

TREATMENT COURT PROGRAMS

Sec. 434.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

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

(2) "Grant program" means the grant program

established under this subchapter.

(3) "Veterans treatment court program" means a program

established under Chapter 124 or former law.

Sec. 434.502. GRANT PROGRAM. The commission shall

establish a grant program to support and expand veterans treatment

court programs operated in this state. The commission shall award

grants under the program using money appropriated to the commission

under Section 434.017(c).

Sec. 434.503. APPLICATION. (a) A county that has

established a veterans treatment court program or two or more

counties that have elected to establish a regional veterans

treatment court program may apply to the commission for funds under

the grant program to support and expand the veterans treatment

court program.

(b) The application must disclose the other sources of

funding for the veterans treatment court program described by

Subsection (a).

Sec. 434.504. CRITERIA FOR GRANTS. (a) The commission

shall adopt rules establishing criteria for grant eligibility.

(b) The commission shall give priority to an applicant that

can demonstrate that there is specific demand for the applicant's

veterans treatment court program, including by showing that the

program has not been able to accept a significant number of

participants into the program.

Sec. 434.505. USE OF FUNDS. A grant awarded under this

subchapter must be used to support and expand the operation of a

veterans treatment court program and to improve the outcomes of

participants in that expanded program. The capacity of the program

to accept participants may be increased by adding case managers,

community supervision personnel, and peer support or treatment

coordination personnel to the program.

Sec. 434.506. REPORT BY GRANT RECIPIENT. A grant recipient

shall annually submit to the commission a report detailing the use

of the funds and providing specific information sufficient to

determine whether the funds increased the capacity of the

applicable veterans treatment court program to accept participants

into the program and improved outcomes for those participants. The

report must include:

(1) the number of referrals to the program, admissions

to the program, and individuals unable to enter the program due to

capacity limitations;

(2) the number of individuals who successfully

completed the program;

(3) the caseloads of program personnel; and

(4) any other outcome measures established by the

commission.

Sec. 434.507. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of

each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a report to

the legislature regarding the results of the grant program

administered under this subchapter.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.