87R7238 EAS-D
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1346
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the office of forensic services within
the Department of State Health Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 535 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 535. OFFICE OF FORENSIC SERVICES
Sec. 535.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Forensic patient" and "forensic services" have
the meanings assigned by Section 532.013.
(2) "Office" means the office of forensic services
established within the department under this chapter.
Sec. 535.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) The office is
established as an office within the department.
(b) The office is created to ensure a strategic statewide
approach to the provision of forensic services. The office shall
have input into policy, service delivery, funding, and commission
or department rulemaking regarding the provision of forensic
services to ensure a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic
systems-level approach to forensic services.
(c) The forensic director appointed under Section 532.013
shall oversee the office.
Sec. 535.003. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The office shall:
(1) coordinate and streamline internal commission
processes and forensic services by:
(A) monitoring and providing oversight to the
processes;
(B) providing clinical leadership; and
(C) collecting data related to forensic services
to improve the provision of those services;
(2) develop a statewide strategic forensic plan as an
addendum to the statewide behavioral health strategic plan to
address the needs of forensic patients;
(3) develop best practices for inpatient policies and
procedures relating to the provision of forensic services;
(4) review and consult on all commission contracts
related to the provision of forensic services, diversion efforts,
and crisis services;
(5) review and consult on all commission contracts for
outpatient and jail-based competency restoration programs;
(6) examine local initiatives related to the provision
of forensic services;
(7) evaluate the success of local initiatives
described by Subdivision (6) and, based on that evaluation, develop
and implement a plan to expand successful local initiatives to
other areas in this state, including scaling those initiatives for
use in state facilities licensed under Subtitle B and by other
forensic services providers;
(8) develop special initiatives at the local, state,
and federal level;
(9) provide support to the department's Joint
Committee on Access and Forensic Services in the development of
policy and legislative proposals for the improvement of forensic
services in this state;
(10) provide training and technical assistance to:
(A) local mental health authorities;
(B) local behavioral health authorities
designated under Section 533.0356;
(C) staff members of courts with jurisdiction
over forensic patients;
(D) county jails; and
(E) law enforcement officers;
(11) direct and coordinate data analysis to:
(A) improve the efficiency of forensic service
commission programs; and
(B) evaluate forensic services programs in this
state;
(12) develop and maintain a comprehensive statewide
registry of forensic hospital bed availability and competency
restoration services;
(13) develop a coordinated statewide system of
forensic service information and technical assistance;
(14) identify strategies to maximize competency
restoration programs across this state; and
(15) develop and implement strategies to address the
increasing demands on the forensic system.
(b) As part of the office's duties, the office must collect
and analyze data regarding:
(1) patient outcomes from behavioral health services
and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, including data from:
(A) the grant program established under Section
531.0993, Government Code;
(B) outpatient competency restoration service
providers;
(C) jail-based competency restoration providers;
and
(D) the Harris County Mental Health Jail
Diversion Program;
(2) the length of time it takes an individual to
receive inpatient competency restoration services;
(3) the length of time it takes an individual to
receive forensic services; and
(4) the means by which forensic patients and
justice-involved individuals are receiving forensic services.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2021, the
commissioner of state health services shall establish the office of
forensic services within the Department of State Health Services as
required by Chapter 535, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.