87R8519 EAS-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2074
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Mental Illness and
Intellectual or Developmental Disability Advisory Council.
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. MENTAL ILLNESS AND INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Sec. 535.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "advisory
council" means the Mental Illness and Intellectual or Developmental
Disability Advisory Council established under this chapter.
Sec. 535.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The
Mental Illness and Intellectual or Developmental Disability
Advisory Council is established to advise the commission and the
legislature on best practices in providing care to individuals with
co-occurring mental illness and intellectual or developmental
disabilities.
Sec. 535.003. APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS. The
advisory council is composed of the following members:
(1) one member appointed by the commissioner of
education;
(2) one member appointed by the executive director of
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(3) one member of the Governor's Committee on People
with Disabilities appointed by the governor;
(4) any other individual considered necessary by the
governor, appointed by the governor; and
(5) the following members appointed by the executive
commissioner:
(A) one member representing an advocacy
organization in this state supporting individuals with
intellectual or developmental disabilities;
(B) one member representing an advocacy
organization in this state supporting individuals experiencing
mental illness;
(C) one member representing an advocacy
organization in this state supporting individuals involved in the
criminal justice system;
(D) one member representing a local mental health
authority;
(E) one member representing a local intellectual
and developmental disability authority;
(F) one parent or family member of a person with
co-occurring mental illness and intellectual or developmental
disabilities;
(G) one member who is a person with an
intellectual or developmental disability who has personally
experienced mental illness;
(H) one member who is a licensed health care
provider with experience treating individuals with co-occurring
mental illness and intellectual or developmental disabilities;
(I) one member who is a licensed social worker,
as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code;
(J) one member who is a teacher certified in
special education under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code;
(K) one member who is a representative of a
public institution of higher education in this state that is a
member of one of the University Centers for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service; and
(L) one member who has experience researching the
mental health needs of individuals with an intellectual or
developmental disability.
Sec. 535.004. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) The advisory council
shall select a presiding officer from among the advisory council
members.
(b) Members of the advisory council shall serve two-year
terms.
(c) A vacancy on the advisory council shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.
(d) A member appointed to fill a vacancy holds the office
for the unexpired portion of the term.
(e) Each member may be reappointed to serve on the advisory
council by the appropriate appointing authority as provided by
Section 535.003.
Sec. 535.005. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The advisory council
shall meet at times and locations as determined by the presiding
officer or by a majority of the members of the advisory council.
(b) A majority of the members of the advisory council
constitute a quorum.
Sec. 535.006. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall
provide administrative support to the advisory council.
Sec. 535.007. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
each year, the advisory council shall prepare and submit to the
governor, lieutenant governor, legislature, commission, and other
relevant state agencies or stakeholders a written report that
includes recommendations on ensuring that comprehensive and
integrated mental health and intellectual or developmental
disability services in this state are available and provided using
a person-centered approach in institutional, public, and private
settings.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor, the commissioner of education, the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission,
and the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice shall appoint members to the Mental Illness and
Intellectual or Developmental Disability Advisory Council, as
required by Chapter 535, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.