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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
veterans; mental health; grant program
Purpose
Establishes the Mental Health Services for Veterans Grant Program (Program), prescribes related requirements and appropriates $2,000,000 in FYs 2026 and 2027 to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) for the Program.
Background
ADVS must: 1) assist veterans and veterans' families and dependents in presenting, providing and establishing claims, privileges, rights and benefits that may be available; 2) provide information to veterans and veterans' families and dependents about federal, state and local laws enacted for veterans' benefits; 3) collect information relating to services and facilities available to veterans; and 4) cooperate with all government and private agencies receiving services for or benefits to veterans (A.R.S. § 41-603).
S.B. 1710 appropriates $2,000,000 in FY 2026 and FY 2027 from the state General Fund (state GF) to ADVS.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Program to support community mental health programs that provide services and treatment to veterans with mental illness.
2. Requires ADVS to:
a) administer the Program;
b) establish the eligibility criteria for grant applicants, acceptable uses of grant monies and reporting requirements for all grant recipients; and
c) award Program monies on a competitive basis directly to private entities that provide services and treatment to veterans with mental illness.
3. Appropriates $2,000,000 in FY 2026 and FY 2027 from the state GF to ADVS for the Program.
4. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Appropriates $2,000,000 from the state GF, rather than an unspecified amount, in FY 2026 and FY 2027 to ADVS for the Program.
Senate Action
MABS 2/17/25 DP 5-0-2
APPROP 2/25/25 DP 9-1-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2025
KJA/AG/slp