89R4943 RAL-D
By: Vo H.B. No. 2711
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a work group to conduct a study on
the feasibility of implementing an acute psychiatric bed registry.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the commission.
(3) "Inpatient mental health facility" has the meaning
assigned by Section 571.003, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The commission shall establish a work group to conduct a
study on the feasibility of implementing a statewide or regional
acute psychiatric bed registry to list available beds at inpatient
mental health facilities for the inpatient psychiatric treatment of
certain individuals.
(c) The work group consists of the following members
appointed by the executive commissioner unless otherwise provided:
(1) one member with appropriate expertise appointed by
the governor;
(2) two members with appropriate expertise appointed
by the lieutenant governor;
(3) two members with appropriate expertise appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(4) the chair of the Texas Hospital Association or the
chair's designee;
(5) the president of the Texas Medical Association or
the president's designee;
(6) the president of the Texas Nurses Association or
the president's designee;
(7) two members who are experts in the field of
technology;
(8) one member who is a licensed psychiatrist;
(9) one member who is a licensed professional
counselor, as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
(10) one member who works in a substance use treatment
facility;
(11) one member who is a representative of a hospital
located in a rural area of this state;
(12) one member who is a representative of a hospital
located in a county with a population of four million or more;
(13) one member who is a representative of a hospital
located in an urban area of this state in a county with a population
of less than four million;
(14) one member who is a representative of a public
hospital;
(15) one member who is a representative of a private
hospital;
(16) one member who is a statistician;
(17) one member who is a public health expert; and
(18) any other member with appropriate expertise as
the executive commissioner determines necessary.
(d) The work group shall elect from among the membership a
presiding officer.
(e) The work group shall meet periodically and at the call
of the presiding officer.
(f) Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall
prepare and submit to each standing committee of the senate and
house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over mental
health a written report that summarizes the results of the study
conducted under this section. The report must:
(1) evaluate the effect of bed registries;
(2) include recommendations for increasing public
awareness of bed registries;
(3) include recommendations for leveraging financial
incentives and legislative, regulatory, or contractual mechanisms
to expedite the entry of data for bed registries;
(4) assess the effect of hospital reimbursements in
increasing bed availability;
(5) evaluate psychiatric treatment capacity in
relation to bed availability; and
(6) include any other information the commission
considers necessary.
(g) The work group is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the applicable appointing authorities shall appoint
the members to the work group established by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.