| 1 | 1 | | 81R276 UM-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.B. No. 1743 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 574.045(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (a) The court may authorize, in the following order of |
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| 12 | 12 | | priority, the transportation of a committed patient or a patient |
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| 13 | 13 | | detained under Section 573.022 or 574.023 to the designated mental |
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| 14 | 14 | | health facility by: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) a special officer for mental health assignment |
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| 16 | 16 | | certified under Section 1701.404, Occupations Code [a relative or |
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| 17 | 17 | | other responsible person who has a proper interest in the patient's |
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| 18 | 18 | | welfare and who receives no remuneration, except for actual and |
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| 19 | 19 | | necessary expenses]; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) the facility administrator of the designated |
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| 21 | 21 | | mental health facility, unless [if] the administrator notifies the |
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| 22 | 22 | | court that facility personnel are not available to transport the |
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| 23 | 23 | | patient; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) [a special officer for mental health assignment |
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| 25 | 25 | | certified under Section 1701.404, Occupations Code; |
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| 26 | 26 | | [(4)] a representative of the local mental health |
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| 27 | 27 | | authority, who shall be reimbursed by the county; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (4) a relative or other responsible person who has a |
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| 29 | 29 | | proper interest in the patient's welfare and who receives no |
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| 30 | 30 | | remuneration, except for actual and necessary expenses; or |
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| 31 | 31 | | (5) the sheriff or constable[, if no person is |
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| 32 | 32 | | available under Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4)]. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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