SENATE FILE 2131

BY  SODDERS

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring a study and report on the establishment of a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program at the Iowa veterans home.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  IOWA VETERANS HOME —— POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DUAL DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT PROGRAM STUDY.
   1.  The Iowa veterans home shall initiate and coordinate the establishment of a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program study committee, and provide staffing assistance to the committee. The committee shall study possible funding sources, program structure, program requirements, and the needs for such a treatment program for veterans in this state. The committee shall focus on the establishment of a dual diagnosis program for individuals seeking treatment for service-connected posttraumatic stress and substance abuse.
   a.  The committee shall include the following voting members:
   (1)  The commandant of the Iowa veterans home, or the commandant’s designee.
   (2)  The executive director of the department of veterans affairs, or the executive director’s designee.
   (3)  The director of public health, or the director’s designee.
   (4)  A commissioner of the commission of veterans affairs designated by the commission.
   (5)  A member of the public, designated by the commandant of the Iowa veterans home, who has experience in providing treatment to individuals with service-connected posttraumatic stress.
   b.  The committee shall include the following ex officio, nonvoting members:
   (1)  Two state senators, one appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
   (2)  Two state representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
   2.  The committee shall meet at least once during the 2012 legislative interim, but may conduct as many as three meetings during the legislative interim, as deemed necessary by the commandant of the Iowa veterans home.
   3.  The committee shall prepare a report for delivery to the general assembly and the governor no later than January 15, 2013, regarding the establishment of a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program at the Iowa veterans home. In the report the committee shall advise or make recommendations to the governor and the general assembly relative to the creation of such a program at the Iowa veterans home.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires that the Iowa veterans home initiate and coordinate the establishment of a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program study committee and provide staffing assistance to the committee. The committee shall study funding sources, program structure, program requirements, and the needs for such a program for veterans in this state. The committee shall focus upon the establishment of a dual diagnosis program for individuals seeking treatment for service-connected posttraumatic stress and substance abuse. 
   The committee shall consist of five voting members including the commandant of the Iowa veterans home, or the commandant’s designee; the executive director of the department of veterans affairs, or the executive director’s designee; the director of public health, or the director’s designee; a commissioner of the commission of veterans affairs designated by the commission; and a member of the public, designated by the commandant of the Iowa veterans home, who has experience in providing treatment to individuals with service-connected posttraumatic stress. The committee shall also include four ex officio, nonvoting members including two state senators, one appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and two state representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
   The bill requires that the committee meet at least once during the 2012 legislative interim and provides that the committee may meet as many as three times during the interim as deemed necessary by the commandant of the Iowa veterans home.
   The bill requires that the committee prepare a report for delivery to the general assembly and the governor regarding the establishment of such a program. The bill requires that the committee deliver the report to the general assembly and the governor by January 15, 2013.