83R7801 GCB-D
By: Huffman S.B. No. 1185
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a mental health jail diversion pilot
program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 579 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 579. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM; HARRIS
COUNTY
Sec. 579.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the
department.
(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
Sec. 579.002. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM.
The department shall establish and operate a pilot program in
Harris County for the purpose of reducing jail recidivism among
persons with mental illness in that county.
Sec. 579.003. CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE MODEL.
The department shall design and test through the pilot program a new
criminal justice mental health service model. The department may
develop and test innovative solutions to problems that arise during
the operation of the pilot program and redesign the model as the
department acquires more information. The model initially must
apply the critical time intervention principle described by Section
579.004 and must include the following elements:
(1) low caseload management;
(2) multilevel residential services; and
(3) easy access to:
(A) integrated health, mental health, and
chemical dependency services;
(B) benefits acquisition services; and
(C) multiple rehabilitation services.
Sec. 579.004. CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION. The pilot
program, in applying the critical time intervention principle, must
give persons with mental illness access to available social,
clinical, housing, and welfare services during the first weeks
after the person's release from jail.
Sec. 579.005. LOCAL SERVICES COORDINATION. In designing
the criminal justice mental health service model the department
shall seek input from and coordinate the provision of services with
the following local entities:
(1) the mental health division of the office of the
district attorney of Harris County;
(2) the Harris County public defender;
(3) mental health courts;
(4) specially trained law enforcement crisis
intervention teams and crisis intervention response teams;
(5) providers of competency restoration services;
(6) providers of guardianship services;
(7) providers of forensic case management;
(8) providers of assertive community treatment;
(9) providers of crisis stabilization services;
(10) providers of intensive and general supportive
housing; and
(11) providers of integrated mental health and
substance abuse inpatient, outpatient, and rehabitation services.
Sec. 579.006. PROGRAM CAPACITY. (a) In establishing the
pilot program, the department shall ensure the program has the
resources to provide mental health jail diversion services to not
fewer than 200 individuals.
(b) The department shall endeavor to serve each year the
program operates not fewer than 500 or more than 600 individuals
cumulatively.
Sec. 579.007. FINANCING THE PROGRAM. (a) The creation of
the pilot program under this chapter is contingent on the
continuing agreement of the Commissioners Court of Harris County to
contribute $32,650,000 to the funding of the program each year in
which the program operates.
(b) It is the intent of the legislature that appropriations
made to fund the pilot program are made in addition to and will not
reduce the amount of appropriations made in the regular funding of
the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County
or the Harris County Psychiatric Center.
Sec. 579.008. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2016,
the commissioner shall submit a report concerning the pilot program
to the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate
and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over
health and human services issues and over criminal justice issues.
(b) The report must include a description of the features of
the criminal justice mental health service model developed and
tested under the pilot program and the commissioner's
recommendation whether to expand use of the model statewide.
Sec. 579.009. CONCLUSION; EXPIRATION. The pilot program
established under this chapter concludes and this chapter expires
September 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.