86R3593 JG-F
By: Nelson, et al. S.B. No. 63
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Care
Consortium.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 113. TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 113.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Community mental health provider" means an entity
that provides mental health care services at a local level. The
term includes community centers established under Subchapter A,
Chapter 534.
(2) "Consortium" means the Texas Mental Health Care
Consortium.
(3) "Executive committee" means the executive
committee of the consortium.
SUBCHAPTER B. CONSORTIUM
Sec. 113.0051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Texas Mental
Health Care Consortium is established to:
(1) coordinate the expansion and delivery of mental
health care services by using the infrastructure and expertise of
the health-related institutions of higher education listed in
Section 113.0052 and community mental health providers;
(2) enhance the state's ability to address mental
health care needs through stronger collaboration and institutional
alignment of the health-related institutions of higher education
listed in Section 113.0052;
(3) improve the effectiveness and efficiency of mental
health care services delivered in this state;
(4) facilitate access to mental health care services
through telemedicine and other cost-effective, evidence-based
programs;
(5) improve mental health and substance use disorder
research efforts conducted by institutions of higher education; and
(6) improve and expand the behavioral health workforce
through training and development opportunities between the
health-related institutions of higher education listed in Section
113.0052 and community mental health providers.
Sec. 113.0052. COMPOSITION. The consortium is composed of:
(1) the following health-related institutions of
higher education:
(A) Baylor College of Medicine;
(B) The Texas A&M University System Health
Science Center;
(C) Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center;
(D) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
at El Paso;
(E) University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth;
(F) Dell Medical School at The University of
Texas at Austin;
(G) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston;
(H) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston;
(I) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio;
(J) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
School of Medicine;
(K) The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Tyler; and
(L) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center;
(2) the commission;
(3) not fewer than three nonprofit organizations that
focus on mental health care; and
(4) any other entity that the executive committee
considers necessary.
Sec. 113.0053. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The consortium
is administratively attached to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall provide administrative support to the consortium as necessary
to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. 113.0101. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. The
consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the
following members:
(1) the chair of the academic department of psychiatry
of each of the health-related institutions of higher education
listed in Section 113.0052;
(2) a representative of the commission with expertise
in the delivery of mental health care services, appointed by the
executive commissioner;
(3) a representative of the commission with expertise
in mental health facilities, appointed by the executive
commissioner;
(4) a representative of an organization that
represents the interests of community centers established under
Subchapter A, Chapter 534, appointed by the governor;
(5) a representative of each nonprofit organization
described by Section 113.0052 that is part of the consortium,
appointed by the governor; and
(6) any other representative appointed by the governor
at the request of the executive committee.
Sec. 113.0102. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive committee
shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership of the
executive committee.
Sec. 113.0103. MEETINGS. The executive committee shall
meet at the call of the presiding officer.
Sec. 113.0104. VACANCY. A vacancy on the executive
committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
Sec. 113.0105. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The executive
committee may accept on behalf of the consortium gifts, grants, or
donations from any public or private source for the purpose of
carrying out this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER D. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 113.0151. GENERAL DUTIES. (a) The executive
committee shall:
(1) coordinate the expansion and delivery of mental
health care services by providing grants or other funding to the
health-related institutions of higher education listed in Section
113.0052 and community mental health providers;
(2) establish procedures and policies for the
administration of funds under this chapter;
(3) monitor contracts and other agreements entered
into under this chapter to ensure recipients of grants or other
funding comply with the terms and conditions of those contracts or
agreements; and
(4) establish procedures to document compliance by
executive committee members and staff with applicable laws
governing conflicts of interest.
(b) In carrying out the duties under Subsection (a), the
consortium shall ensure that evidence-based tools, including
telemedicine, are used to help expand the delivery of mental health
care services.
(c) The consortium shall designate a member of the executive
committee to work in liaison with the statewide health coordinating
council.
Sec. 113.0152. COMPREHENSIVE CHILD PSYCHIATRY ACCESS
NETWORK. (a) The consortium shall establish a network of
comprehensive child psychiatry access centers at the
health-related institutions of higher education listed in Section
113.0052.
(b) A center established under Subsection (a) shall
collaborate with community mental health providers to better care
for children and youth with behavioral health needs by:
(1) providing consultation services and training
opportunities for pediatricians and primary care providers
operating in the center's geographic region; and
(2) expanding a telemedicine program for identifying
and assessing behavioral health needs and providing access to
mental health care services.
(c) A center established under Subsection (a) may enter into
a memorandum of understanding with a community mental health
provider to carry out this section.
Sec. 113.0153. MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH PLAN. The consortium
shall:
(1) develop and implement a mental health research
plan to advance the research component of the statewide behavioral
health strategic plan;
(2) create an aggregated inventory of mental health
and substance use disorder research completed by institutions of
higher education in this state; and
(3) coordinate mental health and substance use
disorder research efforts by the health-related institutions of
higher education listed in Section 113.0052 to ensure those
institutions engage in effective and targeted research to leverage
additional funding.
Sec. 113.0154. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EXPANSION
PROJECT. (a) The consortium shall enhance collaboration between
the health-related institutions of higher education listed in
Section 113.0052 and community mental health providers to increase
psychiatric residency training and improve the quality of care for
persons receiving mental health care services in this state.
(b) The executive committee may provide grants or other
funding to the academic department of psychiatry at each
health-related institution of higher education listed in Section
113.0052 for the purpose of funding:
(1) one full-time psychiatrist to serve as academic
medical director for a community mental health provider; and
(2) two resident positions.
(c) An academic medical director described by Subsection
(b) shall collaborate and coordinate with community mental health
providers to expand the amount and availability of mental health
care resources by:
(1) developing training opportunities for residents
and medical students; and
(2) promoting the use of telemedicine or other
evidence-based tools to provide comprehensive mental health care
services to a greater population.
(d) An institution of higher education that receives grants
or other funding under Subsection (b) shall include in its
curriculum a requirement that psychiatric residents and medical
students participate in rotations through facilities operated by
community mental health providers.
Sec. 113.0155. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than July 31 of
each year, the consortium shall submit to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the standing committee of each house of the legislature with
primary jurisdiction over behavioral health issues and post on its
Internet website a written report that outlines:
(1) the activities and objectives of the consortium;
(2) the health-related institutions of higher
education listed in Section 113.0052 or community mental health
providers awarded grants or other funding by the executive
committee;
(3) any prospective grants or funding the consortium
expects to receive; and
(4) any research accomplishments associated with the
consortium.
SUBCHAPTER E. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 113.0201. JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION REGARDING MENTAL
HEALTH CARE RESOURCES. The court of criminal appeals, in
consultation with the consortium, shall develop a training program
to educate and inform designated judges and their staff on mental
health care resources available within the geographic region in
which the designated judges preside. The court of criminal appeals
may develop and operate the training program in conjunction with
any other training programs it develops or operates.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor and the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission shall make the appointments
required by Section 113.0101, 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.