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Committee considers reducing local match for Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grants
Summary
A committee substitute to Senate Bill 897 would lower the non-state funding match for larger counties in the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program from 100% to 75%; providers told the committee that the match affects service availability and urged increased state support.
Senator Hall, explaining a committee substitute for Senate Bill 897 filed for Senator Blanco, told the committee that the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance program currently requires larger counties to provide a non-state funding match that places strain on providers. "SB 8 97 as filed reduces the match requirement for larger counties from 100% to 50%. The committee substitute instead changes the grant match requirement for larger counties from a % to 75% balancing financial relief with sustainable state funding," Hall said. He also said a contingency rider by Senator Flores was adopted in Article 11 by the Finance Committee.
Clinical and provider witnesses told the committee the match requirement affects the availability and expansion of mental-health services for veterans. Dr. Chelsea Feduccia, speaking for MetroCare (a provider funded by the program), said MetroCare "has been a proud recipient of TBFA funds since our first year" and that the clinic has served thousands of veterans and family members. She described a recent case in which the clinic provided family therapy, individual care, psychiatry services and case management to a Marine veteran and family in crisis and said demand for services is growing.
Catherine Longoria, director of policy and governmental affairs at Emergence Health Network in El Paso, described a local veterans one-stop center supported by the program and told the committee the TVFA funding is essential to staffing and community programming.
Public testimony closed after the witnesses spoke; the committee left SB 897 pending for further consideration.
