86R3700 JG-D
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 632
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the governing bodies and the
consultation policies of local mental health authorities with
respect to sheriffs, their representatives, and local law
enforcement agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 533.0351 to read as follows:
Sec. 533.0351. REQUIRED COMPOSITION OF LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH
AUTHORITY GOVERNING BODY. (a) If a local mental health authority
has a governing body, the governing body must include as an ex
officio nonvoting member a sheriff or a representative of a sheriff
of a county in the local authority's service area. Except as
provided by Subsection (b), the sheriff or representative described
by this subsection serves as an ex officio member of the governing
body for the duration of the sheriff's term in office.
(b) If there are two or more counties in a local mental
health authority's service area, the position of ex officio
nonvoting member described by Subsection (a) must rotate among the
sheriffs of those counties in the local authority's service area
every two years.
(c) If a local mental health authority does not have a
governing body, the local authority shall consult with a sheriff or
a representative of a sheriff of a county in the local authority's
service area regarding the use of the funds received under Section
533.035(b).
SECTION 2. Section 533.0352(d), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) In developing the local service area plan, the local
mental health authority shall:
(1) solicit information regarding community needs
from:
(A) representatives of the local community;
(B) consumers of community-based mental health
services and members of the families of those consumers; [and]
(C) local law enforcement agencies; and
(D) other interested persons; and
(2) consider:
(A) criteria for assuring accountability for,
cost-effectiveness of, and relative value of service delivery
options;
(B) goals to minimize the need for state hospital
and community hospital care;
(C) goals to divert consumers of services from
the criminal justice system;
(D) goals to ensure that a child with mental
illness remains with the child's parent or guardian as appropriate
to the child's care; and
(E) opportunities for innovation in services and
service delivery.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.