PRINTER'S NO. 1295

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1014

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY MURT, READSHAW, ACOSTA, BOBACK, V. BROWN,

BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DAVIS, DEAN, DeLUCA,

DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FARINA, FARRY, FREEMAN, GAINEY,

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, providing for the delivery of services

and programs to veterans with cognitive mental disability and

emotional trauma; and establishing the Office of Veterans'

Mental Health Awareness.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:

8405. Powers and duties of office.

8406. Partnerships.

8407. Funding.

§ 8401. Scope of chapter.

This chapter relates to veterans' mental health awareness.

§ 8402. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Health care provider." A person who helps in identifying,

paragraph (1).

(3) Being regarded as having the type of impairment

described in paragraph (1).

"Sexual and personal trauma." An event of human design that

threatens or inflicts harm.

"Trauma." Any lingering physical, emotional or psychological

symptom, including rape, physical assault, domestic battery and

stalking.

"Traumatic brain injury." A blow or jolt to the head or a

penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.

The following are declared as the legislative policies

underlying this chapter:

(1) Veterans and their beneficiaries should have access

to the full range of support services and programs, including

equal access to all support services and awareness programs

providing information to veterans and health care providers

regarding veterans' mental disabilities, mental illness,

sexual and personal trauma and available health care

providers. Information and services regarding veterans'

mental health issues shall include the full range of

instructional guides, but not be limited to signs, symptoms,

risk factors and benefits of early detection through

well-being, independence and advancement.

(3) Support services and awareness programs provided by

the Commonwealth to veterans and their families should be

provided in a manner that promotes independent living,

continued care with partnered health care providers and

assists in maintaining employment and support services for

people in their homes and communities.

(4) A department office is needed to advise and assist

the department and health care providers in developing

support services and programs for veterans and their families

The Office of Veterans' Mental Health Awareness is

established within the Department of Military and Veterans

Affairs.

§ 8405. Powers and duties of office.

The Office of Veterans' Mental Health Awareness shall have

the power and its duty shall be to:

(1) Conduct departmental policy analysis on specific

issues related to veterans' mental health and awareness.

(2) Act as a liaison to expand the availability of

programs and access to partnered health care providers.

(3) Develop policies to expand and improve outreach

services to all veterans and families in urban and rural

the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on

educational training related to mental health and sexual and

personal trauma of veterans.

(6) Identify, in conjunction with the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs, and disseminate a

comprehensive disability examination which has a combat

veteran focus that may be adopted and utilized by health care

providers and identify unnecessary duplication of services

and future service needs.

(7) Serve as a clearinghouse for information regarding

sexual and personal trauma, traumatic brain injury,

posttraumatic stress disorder and support services for family

members. The office shall also identify issues that impact

veterans' mental health, including substance abuse, domestic

violence, withdrawal from society and violence to oneself.

(8) Assist veterans who have trauma or disabilities and

their families to have access to adequate and coordinated

quality support services and programs.

(9) Develop policy initiatives to stimulate the support

services and programs that veterans with disabilities or

trauma and their families may utilize.

(10) Provide public service announcements and

(12) Determine whether to require health care providers

to make medical information materials available to patients

as appropriate.

(13) Coordinate pilot projects and planning projects

that are related to veterans' health awareness and an

efficient delivery system for veterans' health care in this

Commonwealth.

(14) Provide technical assistance to counties, other

public entities and private entities seeking to obtain funds

for initiatives in veterans' health care, including

funding shortages and report the findings to the Governor and

the General Assembly.

§ 8406. Partnerships.

The department shall:

(1) Consult with appropriate health care professionals

and providers, veterans' service organizations and the State

Veterans' Commission.

(2) Provide information pertaining to existing

partnerships between health care providers and the Department

of Veterans' Affairs relating to veterans' mental health

awareness and health care.

(3) Encourage innovative programs and partnerships by

The appropriation for administration of this chapter shall be

by a separate line item in the General Appropriation Act.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.