The bill establishes Chapter 58 of Title 22 in the Code of Alabama 1975, which requires the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) to work in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the behavioral health needs of Alabama veterans. This plan will focus on enhancing mental health care, substance use treatment, and overall support for veterans, and will be overseen by a Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee chaired by the ADMH Commissioner. The committee, which will include various stakeholders such as veterans' organizations and mental health providers, is tasked with assessing the current state of veterans' mental health and formulating the comprehensive plan by January 1, 2025. The bill also allows for pilot projects utilizing evidence-based services to be initiated by ADMH, with funding allocated through a transparent request for proposal process.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that all pilot projects comply with standards set by ADMH, including data reporting and certification, and grants ADMH the authority to recover funds if recipients fail to meet these requirements. ADMH is also required to provide regular updates to a designated committee regarding the implementation of the comprehensive plan and conduct annual reviews that may lead to recommendations aligned with behavioral health standards. The bill specifies that ADMH must report annually on the number of veterans served, services provided, and funding used for these projects. Importantly, the act does not alter or diminish the existing powers of ADMH, and it is set to take effect on June 1, 2024. There are no deletions from current law, but new legal language is introduced to establish the framework for this initiative.