88R23143 AMF-F
By: Garcia, Allison, Morales Shaw, Bowers, H.B. No. 2481
Price
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a counseling and crisis management program for relative
or other designated caregivers and children in the managing
conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.7553 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.7553. COUNSELING AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR
RELATIVE OR OTHER DESIGNATED CAREGIVER PLACEMENTS. (a) The
department shall facilitate access to a counseling and crisis
management program to provide mental and behavioral telehealth
services and mobile mental and behavioral health intervention
services to relative or other designated caregivers and children in
the managing conservatorship of the department who are placed with
relative or other designated caregivers.
(b) Mental and behavioral telehealth services provided
under this section must be:
(1) accessible electronically through the use of a
computer or telephone application; and
(2) available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(c) Mobile mental and behavioral health intervention
services provided under this section must be:
(1) deployed to the location of the child or the
relative or other designated caregiver requiring intervention
services; and
(2) available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(d) Services described by this section may only be provided
by:
(1) a licensed psychologist;
(2) a licensed marriage and family therapist, as
defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code;
(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by
Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
(4) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or
(5) any similarly qualified mental health
professional as established by department rule.
(e) The department shall, to the extent possible, seek
reimbursement from the medical assistance program under Chapter 32,
Human Resources Code, or a health plan that provides health
coverage for services described by this section to relative or
other designated caregivers and children.
(f) The department may contract with an outside vendor to
provide services described by this section.
(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the commissioner of the Department of Family and
Protective Services shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
Section 264.7553, Family Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The Department of Family and Protective Services shall
begin providing the services required under Section 264.7553,
Family Code, as added by this Act, as follows:
(1) mental and behavioral telehealth services, not
later than January 1, 2024; and
(2) mobile mental and behavioral health intervention
services, not later than January 1, 2025.
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 September 1, 2023.