Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Strengthen Services Provided to Veterans Suffering PTSD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Strengthen

Services Provided to Veterans Suffering PTSD

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are supporting veterans by advancing legislation to establish a Mental Health Services Grant Program, and an emergency measure to allow transport and admission evaluations for veterans suffering with PTSD. Both bills are being transmitted to the House of Representatives for consideration after passing the Senate with bipartisan support.

SB 1163, sponsored by Senator David Gowan, is an emergency measure to give police officers employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more opportunity to step in when a veteran is suffering from a mental health crisis. SB 1163 will give these specially trained officers the authority to initiate mental health evaluations for our veterans and transport them to facilities to receive the care they need.

"Veterans who have served our country deserve the best possible care when they face mental health challenges," said Senator Gowan. "I worked closely with the VA when drafting this bill and had support from various law enforcement groups from around the state. This legislation will not only connect vets with mental health support instead of the criminal justice system, but it will also provide services from VA police officers who are better equipped to work with veterans in times of distress."

SB 1710, sponsored by Senator Gowan, establishes the Mental Health Services for Veterans Grant Program. This bill appropriates $2,000,000 from the state's general fund to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) for the grant program. ADVS will award the monies on a competitive basis directly to private entities that provide services and treatments to veterans with mental illness.

"Increasing access to mental health services is a matter of life and death for many veterans," said Senator Gowan. "This bill will ensure that veterans not only have access to services when they are in a crisis but also have consistent and long-term support to address the mental health challenges they face before, during, and after combat. As part of our ongoing effort to better care for those, who have sacrificed so much for our country, I'm hopeful that with bipartisan support, we can move forward in addressing these critical issues and ensure that every veteran gets the care they deserve."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov