New Texas Bill for Veterans More Money For Nothing

"The bill’s pilot program could cost $3.6 million" but why would that bother anyone? After all, it is just the latest in a very long line of things being done for veterans. It bothers folks paying attention simply being we understand that doing "something" is what caused more suffering to veterans. It would have been much better if these "something" doing bills came from a clear understanding of what was needed and what would actually help veterans and families.

If peer support is costing $3.6 million then someone is making a lot of money. Veterans and families usually volunteer to do it for free. Just as the members of a long list of organizations begun long before this, citizens stepped up and the cost of training was coffee and donuts.  Lucky ones got lunch.

Bill to lend preventative hand to military families, veterans passes Texas House
Standard Times
Matthew Waller
May 11, 2015

AUSTIN — A high priority bill to aid veterans and military families with state help made its way to the Texas Senate after passing the House. State Rep. Susan King, R-Abilene, passed House Bill 19 when the legislation got its final House vote Monday.

King is the chairwoman of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill would have the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services put together a veterans and military families preventive services program, which could address abuse, neglect, mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A pilot program would go to the three largest military cities: Killeen, El Paso and San Antonio. HB 19 would also add coordination between the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Department of State Health Services, which would include training volunteer coordinators and managing a peer-to-peer program where veterans could help veterans.

The legislation would also have an initiative for encouraging communities to make committees to develop plans to help veterans and military families. read more here