87R6445 GCB-D
By: Moody H.B. No. 3835
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of regional assisted outpatient
treatment programs to provide court-ordered outpatient mental
health services in certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 574, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 574.038 and 574.039 to read as
follows:
Sec. 574.038. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL ASSISTED
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS. The commissioners courts of two or
more counties may establish a regional assisted outpatient
treatment program to provide court-ordered outpatient mental
health services under this chapter in the participating counties.
Sec. 574.039. PROGRAM IN CERTAIN COUNTIES MANDATORY. (a)
The commissioners court of a county with a population of more than
200,000 shall undertake to establish a program under this chapter
and apply for federal and state funding to cover program costs. The
criminal justice division of the governor's office may assist a
county in applying for federal funding.
(b) A county is required to establish a program under this
section only if the county receives federal or state funding
specifically for that purpose in an amount sufficient to pay the
program costs.
(c) A county that is required to establish a program under
this section and fails to establish or to maintain that program is
ineligible to receive grant funding from this state or any state
agency.
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, 2021.