88R12942 MPF-D
By: Perry S.B. No. 1677
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment or expansion of behavioral health
centers or jail diversion centers in certain local mental health
authority service areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.09936 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.09936. ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION OF REGIONAL
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS OR JAIL DIVERSION CENTERS. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Local mental health authority" has the meaning
assigned by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization
that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a),
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity
under Section 501(c)(3) of that code.
(b) To the extent money is appropriated to the commission
for that purpose, the commission, in cooperation with local mental
health authorities located primarily in rural areas of this state,
shall contract with nonprofit organizations to establish or expand
behavioral health centers or jail diversion centers in the
authorities' local service areas to:
(1) provide additional forensic hospital beds and
competency restoration services;
(2) provide inpatient and outpatient mental health
services to adults and children; and
(3) provide services to reduce recidivism and the
frequency of arrest, incarceration, and emergency detentions among
persons with mental illness in the service areas.
(c) The executive commissioner shall develop criteria for
the evaluation of applications or proposals submitted by a
nonprofit organization seeking to contract with the commission
under this section.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Section 531.09936, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.