S.B. No. 454
AN ACT
relating to mental health services development plans as updated by
the Health and Human Services Commission and 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) The commission shall require each local mental health
authority group to 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) The commission shall use federal funds in accordance
with state and federal guidelines to implement this section.
(d) The commission, in coordination with each local mental
health authority group, shall annually update the mental health
services development plan that was initially developed by the
commission and each local mental health authority group under
Chapter 963 (S.B. 633), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2019. The commission and each group's updated plan must
include a description of:
(1) actions taken by the group to implement regional
strategies in the plan; and
(2) new regional strategies identified by the group to
reduce the circumstances described by Subsection (b), including the
estimated number of outpatient and inpatient beds necessary to meet
the goals of each group's regional strategy.
(e) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission
shall produce and publish on its Internet website a report
containing the most recent version of each mental health services
development plan developed by the commission and 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 454 passed the Senate on
April 13, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 454 passed the House on
May 18, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 2, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor