H.B. No. 253
AN ACT
relating to a strategic plan to address postpartum depression.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 32.046 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.046. POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)
The commission shall develop and implement a five-year strategic
plan to improve access to postpartum depression screening,
referral, treatment, and support services. Not later than
September 1 of the last fiscal year in each five-year period, the
commission shall develop a new strategic plan for the next five
fiscal years beginning with the following fiscal year.
(b) The strategic plan must provide strategies to:
(1) increase awareness among state-administered
program providers who may serve women who are at risk of or are
experiencing postpartum depression about the prevalence and
effects of postpartum depression on outcomes for women and
children;
(2) establish a referral network of community-based
mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum
depression;
(3) increase women's access to formal and informal
peer support services, including access to certified peer
specialists who have received additional training related to
postpartum depression;
(4) raise public awareness of and reduce the stigma
related to postpartum depression; and
(5) leverage sources of funding to support existing
community-based postpartum depression screening, referral,
treatment, and support services.
(c) The commission shall coordinate with the department,
the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental
health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health
coordinating council in developing the strategic plan.
(d) The commission, in consultation with the department,
the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental
health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health
coordinating council, shall annually review and update, as
necessary, the strategic plan.
(e) For purposes of this section, "postpartum depression"
means a disorder in which a woman experiences moderate to severe
depression following a pregnancy, regardless of whether the
pregnancy resulted in birth, or an act defined by Section
245.002(1).
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Health and
Human Services Commission shall develop the initial strategic plan
required by Section 32.046, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 253 was passed by the House on April
16, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 89, Nays 55, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 253 was passed by the Senate on May
15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor