Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Senator Andrew Jones, and Representative Chip Brown – was designed with the intent, to help improve the access of mental and behavioral health resources for 400,000 Alabama veterans.

Under the legislation a new steering committee was formed consisting of appointments from: the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, and various elected officials.  The committee – which met for the first time just last week – will work to review existing services and then begin to develop a comprehensive plan to improve treatment for veterans.  Approximately 26% of Alabama’s population is made up of veterans, and their immediate family members.

Members of a new Steering Committee charged with developing a plan to address the mental health needs of Alabama veterans, discussed the idea of implementing that voluntary firearm storage program, on Thursday of last week, during the group’s first meeting in Montgomery.  The committee is made up of leaders – from the Alabama Departments of Mental Health and Veterans Affairs, military officials and lawmakers and many of them are veterans themselves.  One member of the committee, Jason Smith, who is a Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Alabama National Guard, championed and advocated for an initiative known as the Safer Together program.

Adopted into law in Louisiana – the Safer Together program sees firearm storage units placed inside gun and ammo stores, for the sole purpose of allowing a veteran to store their weapons.  That program is designed to create a degree of separation between veterans and firearms, during any mental health crisis.  That program would supply gun shops with storage units – three to four per store – as well as provide training for staff members.  Smith said he was looking for an Alabama lawmaker to carry the bill and so far, the response has been positive.  The committee already has $3 million at its disposal for Pilot Programs – courtesy of the state’s share of opioid settlement money.

Its next meeting, October 23rd will focus on mental health and substance use.  The committee will have until April 1st, to present a comprehensive plan to address veteran health care needs to the House and to the Senate committees on Veterans and Military Affairs – and also until June 30th to submit a plan to the governor.

The governor will then have until August 31st, 2025, to act on the plan.