SB 654 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, establishing the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.

PRINTER'S NO.   665

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 654
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, MASTRIANO, GEBHARD, BARTOLOTTA,
        ROBINSON, KANE, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, KEARNEY, VOGEL, COSTA,
        CULVER, STEFANO, J. WARD, HUTCHINSON, FLYNN AND MILLER,
        APRIL 21, 2025

     REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
        APRIL 21, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions,
 3      establishing the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 8                                CHAPTER 100
 9                VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM
10   Sec.
11   10001.   Scope of chapter.
12   10002.   Definitions.
13   10003.   Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
14   § 10001.   Scope of chapter.
15      This chapter relates to providing mental health care for
16   veterans who have exhausted their Federal benefits or are in
17   acute crisis.
 1   § 10002.    Definitions.
 2      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 3   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 4   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "Acute crisis."     When an individual is in need of immediate
 6   mental health care to protect the safety and well-being of the
 7   individual or the public.
 8      "Department."     The Department of Military and Veterans
 9   Affairs of the Commonwealth.
10      "Eligible veteran."     An individual who served in the United
11   States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the
12   National Guard, and who meets the requirements under section
13   10003(e) (relating to Veterans Mental Health Services Program).
14      "Health care provider."     As defined in 45 CFR 160.103
15   (relating to definitions) as of the effective date of this
16   section.
17      "Participating health care provider."     A health care provider
18   who provides mental health services to veterans under the
19   program.
20      "Program."     The Veterans Mental Health Services Program
21   established under section 10003(a).
22      "Treatment."     As defined in 45 CFR 164.501 (relating to
23   definitions).
24      "Veterans Affairs."     The United States Department of Veterans
25   Affairs.
26   § 10003.    Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
27      (a)     Establishment.--The Veterans Mental Health Services
28   Program is established within the department to provide mental
29   health care to veterans.
30      (b)     Reimbursement.--The department shall reimburse

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 1   participating health care providers. The following shall apply:
 2            (1)   An eligible veteran may receive five reimbursed
 3      sessions per year.
 4            (2)   The department may grant an eligible veteran
 5      additional sessions if determined by the health care provider
 6      that the sessions are necessary and the department has:
 7                  (i)    the resources necessary to reimburse the health
 8            care provider; and
 9                  (ii)   approved the additional sessions before they
10            occur.
11      (c)     Program guidelines.--In consultation with the Department
12   of Human Services, the department shall determine program
13   guidelines for eligible veterans and health care providers.
14      (d)     List of participating providers.--The department shall
15   publish on the department's publicly accessible Internet website
16   a list of participating health care providers.
17      (e)     Eligibility requirements.--In order to be eligible to
18   participate in the program, the following must apply to the
19   veteran:
20            (1)   The veteran was discharged or released from service
21      under conditions other than dishonorable.
22            (2)   Either of the following:
23                  (i)    The veteran's benefits related to mental health
24            services provided by Veterans Affairs have been exhausted
25            for the year in which the veteran seeks to participate in
26            the program.
27                  (ii)   The veteran is in acute crisis.
28      (f)     Declaration form.--The department shall prescribe and
29   provide participating health care providers with a form on which
30   the eligible veteran shall declare that the eligible veteran has

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 1   complied with the requirement under subsection (e)(2)(i), if
 2   applicable.
 3      (g)   Treatment requirements.--Prior to treatment, an eligible
 4   veteran shall provide the participating health care provider
 5   with:
 6            (1)   A valid identification card that:
 7                  (i)    clearly indicates that the individual is a
 8            veteran of the United States Armed Forces; and
 9                  (ii)    includes a photo of the veteran.
10            (2)   The completed form required under subsection (f).
11      (h)   Report.--
12            (1)   No later than December 31 of each year, the
13      department shall issue a report regarding the program,
14      including the number of:
15                  (i)    eligible veterans participating in the program
16            per county;
17                  (ii)    health care providers participating in the
18            program per county; and
19                  (iii)    mental health care sessions provided by the
20            program per county.
21            (2)   The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to
22      the following:
23                  (i)    The President pro tempore of the Senate.
24                  (ii)    The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
25                  (iii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of
26            the Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
27                  (iv)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
28            Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
29                  (v)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
30            Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.

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1              (vi)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
2         Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
3              (vii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of
4         the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
5         of the Senate.
6              (viii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of
7         the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
8         of the House of Representatives.
9     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 120 days.




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