By: Eckhardt 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:
(i) the number of beds available for competency
restoration;
(ii) the number of beds available to patients who
are subject to a civil commitment order;
(iii) the number of beds available to patients
who are 18 years of age or older as well as the number of beds
available to patients that are 17 years of age or younger; and
(iv) the percentage of current patients
receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment in this state that are
likely to require long term care;
(2) the current number of patients at inpatient mental
health facilities in this state that provide inpatient psychiatric
treatment to individuals experiencing an acute mental crisis,
including a breakdown of the following:
(i) the number of patients admitted to these
facilities for competency restoration purposes;
(ii) the number of patients admitted to these
facilities as a result of a civil commitment order;
(iii) the number of patients admitted to these
facilities who are 18 years of age or older as well as the number of
patients who are 17 years of age or younger; and
(iv) the number of patients admitted to these
facilities that 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 those individuals,
including an estimation of the percent of incoming patients that
will require long term care; and
(4) current and anticipated resources necessary to
meet the demands described by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3).
(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.