Sec. 437.216.  SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM.  (a)  The Texas military forces shall develop a program to provide referrals to service members for reintegration services.
(b)  The program shall:
(1)  identify and make referrals to community-based organizations that have existing programs that provide reintegration services to service members and their families;
(2)  focus on early intervention and appropriate referral to promote the health of service members and the children and other family members of the service members;
(3)  promote family cohesion and sustainability;
(4)  be based on evidence-based best practices related to meeting the needs of service members and the children and other family members of the service members;
(5)  be provided, when appropriate, in a community setting through peer counseling and other means effective for community outreach;
(6)  use existing service delivery facilities, including churches, National Guard Bureau family education facilities, and veterans centers and support facilities;
(7)  use community-based and faith-based organizations;
(8)  be developed and administered in a manner that promotes collaboration of service providers and results in the referral of service members, their children, and other family members to the appropriate federal, state, and community services for which they are eligible; and
(9)  provide information and referral services regarding the risks and consequences of trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions for which service members are at risk.
(c)  The Texas military forces shall ensure that:
(1)  each person who provides referrals to service members under the referral program has received sufficient training to ensure that service members receive accurate information; and
(2)  service members are notified in a timely manner about the service referral program.
(d)  In developing the referral program, the Texas military forces shall consult with the National Guard Bureau, the United States Veterans Health Administration, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1217 (S.B. 1536), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2013.