HOUSE BILL NO. 5279

October 26, 2023, Introduced by Reps. Brabec, Paiz, Miller, Rheingans, Martus, MacDonell, Price, Glanville, DeBoer, Bezotte, Wozniak, Hill, Koleszar, Mentzer, Schmaltz, Edwards, Coffia, Tsernoglou, Arbit, Brenda Carter, Rogers and Bruck and referred to the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security.

A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled

"Michigan military act,"

(MCL 32.501 to 32.851) by adding section 323.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 323. (1) The agency shall create and operate a buddy-to-buddy program offering personal, 1-on-1 veteran mentorship and support to individuals currently serving in the Michigan National Guard or military reserves. The director of the office of mental health and suicide prevention within the agency shall oversee and supervise the program. The program must include, but not be limited to, connecting individuals to both of the following through volunteer veteran mentors:

(a) Benefits and resources related to education, employment, family-related issues, financial matters, and health care.

(b) Advocates, including, but not limited to, veteran navigators, who can help with mental health and substance abuse issues.

(2) The agency may receive funding for the program described in subsection (1) from any source.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Agency" means the Michigan veterans affairs agency.

(b) "Program" means the buddy-to-buddy program created in subsection (1).

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 102nd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5276 (request no. 03396'23).

(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5278 (request no. 04208'23).

(c) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5280 (request no. 04209'23).

(d) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5277 (request no. 04674'23).