Bill Text: MS HB285 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi House Bill 285 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Veterans; require Veterans Affairs Board to take certain actions to help increase access to mental health care services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-23 - Died In Committee [HB285 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2016-HB285-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Military Affairs

By: Representative Smith

House Bill 285

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO PUBLISH AN INTERNET WEBSITE THAT SERVES AS A CENTRALIZED SOURCE TO PROVIDE VETERANS IN MISSISSIPPI WITH INFORMATION REGARDING ALL OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO DIRECT THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM IN TWO LOCATIONS IN THE STATE TO ASSIST VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY AND TO IMPROVE THE ACCESS OF VETERANS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; TO REQUIRE THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM AT EACH LOCATION INCLUDE A COMMUNITY ORIENTED VETERAN PEER SUPPORT NETWORK; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO COLLABORATE WITH NONPROFIT MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS TO PREVENT SUICIDE AMONG VETERANS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The State Veterans Affairs Board shall publish an Internet website that serves as a centralized source to provide veterans in Mississippi with information regarding all of the mental health care services provided to veterans by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and by the State of Mississippi, including, with respect to each Veterans Affairs medical center, Vet Center, and community-based outpatient center in Mississippi:

(a) The name and contact information of each social work office;

(b) The name and contact information of each mental health clinic;

(d) Any other information that the board determines appropriate.

The board shall update the information on the Internet website not less than once every ninety (90) days.

SECTION 2. (1) The State Veterans Affairs Board shall establish a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning from serving on active duty and to improve the access of veterans to mental health services. The pilot program shall be conducted in two (2) locations in the state, with one (1) location having a Veterans Affairs medical center in the area, that (a) have a large population of veterans who served in the reserve components of the Armed Forces, or (b) are transitioning into communities with an established population of veterans after having recently separated from the Armed Forces.

(2) The pilot program at each location shall include a community oriented veteran peer support network, carried out in partnership with an appropriate entity with experience in peer support programs, that:

(a) Establishes peer support training guidelines;

(b) Develops a network of veteran peer support counselors to meet the demands of the communities in that area of the state;

(d) Is readily available to veterans.

(3) (a) Not later than eighteen (18) months after the date on which the pilot program begins, the board shall submit to the Legislature a report on the pilot program that includes:

(i) A full description of the peer support model implemented under the pilot program, participation data, and data pertaining to past and current mental health related hospitalizations and fatalities;

(ii) Recommendations on implementing peer support networks throughout the state;

(iii) Whether the mental health resources made available under the pilot program for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces is effective; and

(iv) A full description of the activities and effectiveness of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot program, including partnerships that have been established with appropriate entities.

(b) Not later than ninety (90) days before the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (3) of this section, the board shall submit to the Legislature an update to the report submitted under paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(3) The authority of the board to carry out the pilot program under subsection (1) of this section shall terminate on the date that is three (3) years after the date on which the pilot program begins.

SECTION 3. (1) The State Veterans Affairs Board may collaborate with nonprofit mental health organizations to prevent suicide among veterans as follows:

(a) To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts carried out by the board and nonprofit mental health organizations;

(b) To assist nonprofit mental health organizations with the suicide prevention efforts of those organizations through the use of the expertise of employees of the board; and/or

(2) In carrying out any collaboration under subsection (1) of this section, the board and any nonprofit mental health organization with which the board is collaborating shall exchange training sessions and best practices to help with the suicide prevention efforts of the board and the organization.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.