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 veterans in Alabama. This plan will focus on enhancing mental health care, substance use treatment, and overall behavioral health support for veterans, and will be guided by a newly formed Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee. This committee will include various stakeholders, such as commissioners from ADMH and ADVA, representatives from veterans service organizations, and other relevant officials, and is tasked with completing the plan by January 1, 2025. The bill also allows ADMH to initiate pilot projects utilizing evidence-based services, with funding awarded 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 an annual review that may lead to formal recommendations. Additionally, ADMH must report annually on the number of veterans served, the services provided, and the funding expended for these projects. The provisions of this act will take effect on June 1, 2024, and no deletions from current law are included in the bill; rather, it introduces new legal language to establish this initiative.