S.B. No. 55

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of a grant program to support community
	mental health programs for veterans and their families.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 531.0992 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.0992.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
	VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (a)  To the extent funds are
	appropriated to the commission for that purpose, the commission
	shall establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting
	community mental health programs providing services and treatment
	to veterans and their families.
	(b)  The commission shall enter into an agreement with a
	qualified nonprofit or private entity to serve as the administrator
	of the grant program. The duties of the administrator must include
	assisting, supporting, and advising the commission in fulfilling
	the commission's responsibilities with respect to the grant
	program.  The administrator may advise the commission on:
	(1)  designing, developing, implementing, and managing
	the program;
	(2)  determining criteria for local community
	collaboration and the types of services and deliveries eligible for
	grants;
	(3)  eligibility requirements for grant recipients;
	(4)  designing and managing the competitive bidding
	processes for applications or proposals and the evaluation and
	selection of grant recipients;
	(5)  contractual requirements for grant recipients;
	(6)  grant requisites and mechanisms;
	(7)  roles and responsibilities of grant recipients;
	(8)  reporting requirements for grant recipients;
	(9)  support and technical capabilities;
	(10)  requisite timelines and deadlines for the
	program;
	(11)  evaluation of the program and grant recipients;
	and
	(12)  requirements for reporting on the program to
	policy makers.
	(c)  The private entity that supports and administers the
	grant program shall obtain or secure contributions to the grant
	program in an amount of money or other consideration at least equal
	in value to the amount of money awarded to grant recipients by the
	commission under the grant program. The money or other
	consideration obtained or secured by the private entity may, as
	determined by the executive commissioner, include cash or in-kind
	contributions from private contributors or local governments but
	may not include state or federal funds.
	(d)  Money appropriated to, or obtained by, the commission
	for the grant program must be disbursed directly to grant
	recipients by the commission, as authorized by the executive
	commissioner. Money or other consideration obtained or secured by
	the private entity must be disbursed or provided directly to grant
	recipients by the private entity, private contributors, or local
	governments, as authorized by the executive commissioner.
	(e)  All grants awarded under the grant program must be used
	for the sole purpose of supporting community programs that provide
	mental health care services and treatment to veterans and their
	families and that coordinate mental health care services for
	veterans and their families with other transition support services.
	(f)  The commission shall select grant recipients based on
	the submission of applications or proposals by nonprofit and
	governmental entities. The executive commissioner shall develop
	criteria for the evaluation of those applications or proposals and
	the selection of grant recipients. The selection criteria must:
	(1)  evaluate and score:
	(A)  fiscal controls for the project;
	(B)  project effectiveness;
	(C)  project cost; and
	(D)  an applicant's previous experience with
	grants and contracts;
	(2)  address the possibility of and method for making
	multiple awards; and
	(3)  include other factors that the executive
	commissioner considers relevant.
	(g)  The executive commissioner shall use a noncompetitive
	procurement procedure to select a qualified nonprofit or private
	entity to administer a pilot program of the grant program
	established under this section. In selecting the qualified
	nonprofit or private entity, the executive commissioner must
	consider the purposes of the program and the duties of the program
	administrator described in this section.
	(h)  The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules
	necessary to implement the grant program under this section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the Senate on
	April 9, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
	May 20, 2015, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 24, 2015, House
	granted request of the Senate; May 30, 2015, Senate adopted
	Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
	Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 55 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 19, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 136,
	Nays 5, one present not voting; May 24, 2015, House granted request
	of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
	May 30, 2015, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
	following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 7, two present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor