88R10398 MPF-D
By: Johnson of Dallas H.B. No. 4561
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Alternative Mental Health
Therapy Research Consortium and to certain plans, programs, and
studies related to the provision of those alternative mental health
therapies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I-1. ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIES
Sec. 531.331. ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY RESEARCH
CONSORTIUM. (a) In this section, "consortium" means the Texas
Alternative Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium.
(b) The commission shall establish the Texas Alternative
Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium.
(c) The consortium is composed of:
(1) academic scholars with knowledge of the efficacy
of providing mental health therapy using psychedelics;
(2) representatives of health-related institutions
providing alternative mental health therapies using ketamine;
(3) mental health professionals who specialize in
providing mental health care to veterans; and
(4) representatives of an advocacy group for
alternative mental health therapies using psychedelics.
(d) The executive commissioner shall appoint the members of
the consortium.
(e) The consortium shall research the efficacy of providing
mental health care through the provision of psychedelic drugs and
ketamine, focusing on the provision of mental health care to
veterans in this state through the use of those alternative
therapies.
(f) The consortium shall solicit, and the commission may
accept on behalf of the consortium, a gift, grant, or donation made
from any public or private source to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
Sec. 531.332. GRANT PROGRAM FOR KETAMINE CLINICS. (a) The
commission shall establish and administer a grant program to
establish ketamine clinics in this state.
(b) In addition to money appropriated by the legislature,
the commission may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any
source to administer and finance the grant program established
under this section.
Sec. 531.333. PLAN FOR KETAMINE THERAPY VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR
VETERANS. The commission shall develop a plan to establish a
voucher program to provide ketamine therapy to veterans.
Sec. 531.334. RULES. The executive commissioner shall
adopt rules to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 2. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission
shall conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of using alternative
therapies, including the use of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, to treat
veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, and mild traumatic brain injury.
(b) As part of the study conducted under Subsection (a) of
this section, the commission must review scientific literature
related to alternative therapies.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2024, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall prepare and submit a report to the
legislature containing the findings of the study and any
recommendations for legislative action.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.