Bill > SB1101

This bill establishes the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council within the Virginia Department of Health, comprising six members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Senate Committee on Rules. The Council members will have expertise in clinical research, veteran mental health care, and treatments for specific mental health conditions that significantly impact veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment-resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Council's primary role is to advise the Department of Health on supporting clinical research and implementing FDA Breakthrough Therapies—innovative medical treatments that demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies—for these conditions, which are known to increase veterans' suicide risk. The bill requires that initial appointments to the Council be made within 60 days of the act's enactment, reflecting an urgent commitment to addressing mental health challenges faced by veterans.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1101