By: Eckhardt, et al. S.B. No. 2468
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding available beds at inpatient mental
health facilities providing acute psychiatric treatment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "commission" means the
Health and Human Services Commission.
(b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding the
availability of beds at inpatient mental health facilities in this
state that provide acute inpatient psychiatric treatment. The
study must evaluate:
(1) the current number of psychiatric beds available
at inpatient mental health facilities in this state that provide
inpatient psychiatric treatment to individuals experiencing an
acute mental health crisis, including a breakdown of beds available
for patients:
(A) committed to a facility for competency
restoration services under Chapter 46B, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(B) civilly committed to a facility under Chapter
841, Health and Safety Code;
(C) committed to a facility after having been
found not guilty by reason of insanity under Chapter 46C, Code of
Criminal Procedure;
(D) voluntarily admitted to a facility;
(E) 18 years of age or older;
(F) younger than 18 years of age; and
(G) receiving long-term mental health treatment
in a facility;
(2) the current number of patients admitted to an
inpatient mental health facility in this state that provides
inpatient psychiatric treatment to individuals experiencing an
acute mental health crisis, including a breakdown of:
(A) the number of patients committed to a
facility for competency restoration services under Chapter 46B,
Code of Criminal Procedure, including the number of individuals
committed under an initial order of commitment or an order
extending the initial restoration period;
(B) the number of patients civilly committed to a
facility under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code;
(C) the number of patients committed to a
facility after having been found not guilty by reason of insanity
under Chapter 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(D) the number of patients voluntarily admitted
to a facility;
(E) the number of patients 18 years of age or
older;
(F) the number of patients younger than 18 years
of age;
(G) the percentage of patients in this state who
will likely require long-term mental health treatment in a
facility; and
(H) the number of patients who have been
diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability;
(3) the projected need over the next several years for
additional psychiatric beds at inpatient mental health facilities
that provide inpatient psychiatric treatment to individuals
experiencing an acute mental health crisis, including the projected
percentage of incoming patients who will likely require long-term
mental health treatment in a facility; and
(4) current and anticipated resources, including
workforce needs, necessary to meet the demands described by
Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection.
(c) In designing and conducting the study, the commission
may collaborate with institutions of higher education in this state
that award medical degrees.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2024, the commission shall
prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing
the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or
other action.
SECTION 2. This Act expires September 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.