Bill No.: HB0012                  Drafter:  JHR

LSO No.:  08LSO-0169              Effective Date:  7/1/2008

Enrolled Act No.:

Chapter No.:

Prime Sponsor:     Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Catch Title:       Veterans' mental health appropriations.

Subject:   Provides appropriations to address the mental health and substance abuse problems of military personnel and their families as specified.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Under existing law, the federal government, through the Veterans Administration or the Department of Defense, provides for the medical needs, including mental health and substance abuse needs of qualified veterans or soldiers.

· This bill appropriates state funding ($798,000.00) to the Department of Health for the biennium beginning July 1, 2008, to meet the mental health and substance abuse needs of veterans or soldiers who have participated in military operations since September 11, 2001, and their families, as follows:

· $440,000.00 for 2 contractors to detect and identify qualified veterans or soldiers and their families who may be in need of the specified services, and to help them obtain needed assessments and treatments;

· $68,000.00 for a voucher program to reimburse physicians who provide assessment screenings under this act and who are not otherwise reimbursed for those screenings;

· $250,000.00 to reimburse veterans and soldiers for travel, childcare and other necessary expenses to access services under this act;

· $40,000.00 to provide training to physicians and other health care providers on war related injuries and illnesses;

· The bill provides that the appropriations shall not become part of the Department's standard budget, and shall be reduced to the extent federal funding is received for the services.

Note:

· Final action on this bill was not taken at this time this summary was prepared.  Should changes be made to the bill upon final passage, an updated summary will be transmitted to all legislators.