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(b) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 336 (S.B. 822), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2019.

(c) The commission shall ensure that each grant recipient obtains or secures contributions to match awarded grants in amounts of money or other consideration as required by Subsection (d-1) or (d-2). The money or other consideration obtained or secured by the commission 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.

(d-1) For services and treatment provided in a single county, the commission shall condition each grant provided under this section on a potential grant recipient providing funds from non-state sources in a total amount at least equal to:

(1) 50 percent of the grant amount if the community mental health program to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment in a county with a population of less than 250,000; or

(2) 100 percent of the grant amount if the community mental health program to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment in a county with a population of 250,000 or more.

(d-2) For a community mental health program that provides services and treatment in more than one county, the commission shall condition each grant provided under this section on a potential grant recipient providing funds from non-state sources in a total amount at least equal to:

(1) 50 percent of the grant amount if the largest county in which the community mental health program to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment has a population of less than 250,000; or

(2) 100 percent of the grant amount if the largest county in which the community mental health program to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment has a population of 250,000 or more.

(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) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 336 (S.B. 822), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2019.

(h) The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the grant program under this section.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 327 (S.B. 55), Sec. 1, eff. June 4, 2015.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 336 (S.B. 822), Sec. 1, eff. May 31, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 336 (S.B. 822), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2019.