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2008 SESSION

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081860512
HOUSE BILL NO. 475 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on General Laws on February 5, 2008) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Cox and Brink [HB 1064]) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2001.1, relating to the Department of Veterans Services; mental health and rehabilitative services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-2001.1 as follows:

§ 2.2-2001.1. Program for mental health and rehabilitative services.

The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services, shall establish a program to monitor and coordinate mental health and rehabilitative services support for Virginia veterans, and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service. The program shall also support family members affected by covered military members’ service and deployments. The purpose of the program is to ensure that adequate and timely assessment, treatment, and support are available to veterans, service members, and affected family members.

The program shall facilitate support for covered individuals to provide timely assessment and treatment for stress-related injuries and traumatic brain injuries resulting from service in combat areas, and subject to the availability of public and private funds appropriated for them, case management services, outpatient, family support, and other appropriate mental health and brain injury services necessary to provide individual services and support to military service members and their family members covered by this section.

2.  That the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall (i) actively pursue all means available to secure federal funding for the program established by this act, including federal grants and earmarked funds and (ii) ensure the maximization of federal and private funds to support the program. Additionally, the Veterans Services Foundation shall support the program established by this act as a top priority of its fund-raising efforts.