1. (a) The commission shall develop and administer a mental health program for veterans. The program must include:

   1. (1) peer-to-peer counseling;
   2. (2) access to licensed mental health professionals for peer service coordinators and peers;
   3. (3) training approved by the commission for peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers;
   4. (4) technical assistance for peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers;
   5. (5) identification, retention, and screening of community-based licensed mental health professionals;
   6. (6) suicide prevention training for peer service coordinators and peers;
   7. (7) veteran jail diversion services, including veterans treatment courts; and
   8. (8) coordination of mental health first aid for veterans training to veterans and immediate family members of veterans.

2. (b) As part of the mental health program for veterans, the commission shall develop:

   1. (1) a women veterans mental health initiative; and
   2. (2) a rural veterans mental health initiative.

3. (c) The commission shall solicit and ensure that specialized training is provided to persons who are peers and who want to provide peer-to-peer counseling or other peer-to-peer services under the program.

   Redesignated from Health and Safety Code, Section 1001.201 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(35), eff. September 1, 2015.

   Transferred, redesignated and amended from Health and Safety Code, Section 1001.222 by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 713 (H.B. 114), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2025.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (H.B. 2392), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.1636, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1237 (S.B. 1304), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1238 (S.B. 1305), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 512 (S.B. 27), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1327 (H.B. 4429), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.