Bill Text: MI HB5276 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Military affairs: other; office of mental health; establish within the Michigan department of military and veterans affairs. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5278'23, HB 5280'23, HB 5277'23, HB 5279'23

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-5)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-10-31 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 10/26/2023 [HB5276 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2023-HB5276-Introduced.html

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HOUSE BILL NO. 5276

A bill to create the office of mental health and suicide prevention in the Michigan veterans affairs agency and provide for its powers and duties; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "office of mental health and suicide prevention act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act:

(a) "Agency" means the Michigan veterans affairs agency.

(b) "Department" means the department of military and veterans affairs.

(c) "Office" means the office of mental health and suicide prevention created in section 5.

(d) "Veteran" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1965 PA 190, MCL 35.61.

Sec. 5. (1) The office of mental health and suicide prevention is created in the agency. The director of the agency shall appoint an individual who has career experience, as determined by the director of the agency, in veteran mental health and substance abuse issues as the director of the office. The director of the office is not exempt from the state classified civil service. The director of the office reports to the director of the agency. The director of the agency may assign additional responsibilities to the director of the office in addition to the responsibilities described in this act.

(2) The office shall collect data on all of the following in this state:

(a) Veteran mental health and substance abuse issues, including, but not limited to, statistics related to post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, substance abuse and addiction, and suicide.

(b) Efforts by the department to address veteran mental health and substance abuse issues described in subdivision (a).

(c) The number of mental health screenings conducted under either of the following:

(i) The county veteran service officer training program created in section 3b of 1953 PA 192, 35.623b.

(ii) The Michigan azimuth bridge program created in section 321 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.721.

(d) The number of referrals from the mental health screenings described in subdivision (c).

(e) Efforts undertaken and data collected through the interagency agreement with the department of health and human services under section 322 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.722.

(f) The yearly strategic goals of the office.

(g) Utilization of the buddy-to-buddy program created in section 323 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.723.

(h) The number of post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaires and traumatic brain injury questionnaires administered under section 236 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.636.

(3) The office shall submit an annual report to the director of the agency and the standing committees of the house of representatives and senate on military and veterans affairs on the data collected under subsection (2).

(4) The office may, on appropriation, administer grants to local units of government, nonprofit organizations, or other entities, as determined by the director of the agency, in support of programs and resources for service members and veterans consistent with this act.

Sec. 7. In addition to any other powers and responsibilities granted to the director of the office under this act or delegated by the director of the agency, the director of the office shall oversee and supervise the following programs:

(a) The county veteran service officer training program created in section 3b of 1953 PA 192, 35.623b.

(b) The Michigan azimuth bridge program created in section 321 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.721.

(c) The buddy-to-buddy program created in section 323 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.723.

Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 102nd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5278 (request no. 04208'23).

(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5280 (request no. 04209'23).

(c) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5277 (request no. 04674'23).

(d) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5279 (request no. 04675'23).