87R5425 EAS-F
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 454
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mental health services development plans as updated by
local mental health authority groups.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0222 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0222. LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY GROUP REGIONAL
PLANNING. (a) In this section, "local mental health authority
group" means a group of local mental health authorities established
by the commission under Chapter 963 (S.B. 633), Acts of the 86th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2019.
(b) Each local mental health authority group shall meet at
least quarterly to collaborate on planning and implementing
regional strategies to reduce:
(1) costs to local governments of providing services
to persons experiencing a mental health crisis;
(2) transportation to mental health facilities of
persons served by an authority that is a member of the group;
(3) incarceration of persons with mental illness in
county jails that are located in an area served by an authority that
is a member of the group; and
(4) visits by persons with mental illness at hospital
emergency rooms located in an area served by an authority that is a
member of the group.
(c) Annually, each local mental health authority group
shall submit to the commission an updated version of the mental
health services development plan that was initially developed for
the group under Chapter 963 (S.B. 633), Acts of the 86th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. The group's updated plan must
include a description of:
(1) actions taken by the group to implement strategies
in the plan; and
(2) new strategies identified by the group to reduce
the circumstances described by Subsection (b).
(d) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission,
using existing resources, shall produce and publish on its Internet
website a report containing the most recent version of each mental
health services development plan submitted by a local mental health
authority group.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 531.0222, Government
Code, as added by this Act, a local mental health authority group
and the Health and Human Services Commission are not required to
produce or publish a report required by that section before
December 1, 2022.
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.