Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5342 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1	1		By: Landgraf H.B. No. 5342
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services,
7	9		including the operation of crisis centers and mobile crisis
8	10		outreach teams; authorizing a fee.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Chapter 547, Government Code, as effective April
11	13		1, 2025, is amended by adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
12	14		SUBCHAPTER K. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES
13	15		Sec. 547.0501. 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE TRUST FUND.
14	16		(a) The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline trust fund is established
15	17		as a trust fund to be held by the comptroller outside the state
16	18		treasury and administered by the commission.
17	19		(b) The trust fund consists of:
18	20		(1) revenue derived from the fee described by Section
19	21		547.0505;
20	22		(2) legislative appropriations of money for the
21	23		purposes of this subchapter;
22	24		(3) available federal funding this state allocates for
23	25		the purposes of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline;
24	26		(4) gifts, grants, and donations received by this
25	27		state for the purposes of the trust fund;
26	28		(5) interest, dividends, and other income of the trust
27	29		fund; and
28	30		(6) money from any other source that is deposited in or
29	31		transferred to the trust fund.
30	32		(c) Money deposited in the trust fund may only be used to:
31	33		(1) implement, maintain, or improve the 988 Suicide &
32	34		Crisis Lifeline, including personnel and technological
33	35		infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve operational and
34	36		clinical standards and best practices as provided by the National
35	37		Suicide Prevention Lifeline;
36	38		(2) provide funding for crisis outreach and other
37	39		services a community mental health center provides in response to
38	40		the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline;
39	41		(3) provide funding for uninsured individuals
40	42		receiving crisis and stabilization services;
41	43		(4) provide personnel for crisis centers, mobile
42	44		crisis outreach teams, and youth crisis outreach teams;
43	45		(5) fund data provision, reporting, participation in
44	46		evaluations, and other related quality improvement activities; and
45	47		(6) administer, oversee, and evaluate the trust fund.
46	48		(d) The state may not transfer or use trust fund assets for
47	49		any purpose other than the uses provided in this section.
48	50		(e) The executive commissioner shall submit an annual
49	51		report to the legislature and the Federal Communications Commission
50	52		detailing the trust fund deposits and expenditures in the preceding
51	53		year.
52	54		Sec. 547.0502. 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE FEE. (a)
53	55		The commission, in collaboration with the Commission on State
54	56		Emergency Communications, may impose a 988 suicide and crisis
55	57		lifeline service fee to supplement any federal, state, or local
56	58		funding for suicide prevention or behavioral health crisis services
57	59		on each:
58	60		(1) local exchange access line or equivalent local
59	61		exchange access line, not including public telephone equipment
60	62		operated by coin or by card reader;
61	63		(2) wireless telecommunications connection;
62	64		(3) Voice over Internet Protocol service connection;
63	65		and
64	66		(4) purchase of a prepaid wireless telecommunications
65	67		service by any method.
66	68		(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall set the fee in
67	69		an amount sufficient to cover the costs of creating, operating, and
68	70		maintaining the suicide prevention services provided under this
69	71		subchapter, according to the national guidelines for crisis
70	72		services. The commission shall periodically adjust the fee amount
71	73		as necessary to provide for continuous operation, volume increases,
72	74		and maintenance.
73	75		(c) Revenue from the fee shall be deposited in the 988
74	76		suicide and crisis lifeline trust fund established under Section
75	77		547.0504.
76	78		(d) A fee collected under this section may only be used to
77	79		offset costs as provided by 47 U.S.C. Section 251a.
78	80		(e) Revenue from the fee may not be used for expenses that
79	81		are:
80	82		(1) reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, or
81	83		another insurer or governmental program; or
82	84		(2) covered because the service recipient's name and
83	85		health coverage information cannot be obtained or billed.
84	86		(f) The executive commissioner shall submit an annual
85	87		report to the legislature and the Federal Communications Commission
86	88		detailing the revenue generated by the fee in the preceding year.
87	89		Sec. 547.0503. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) The commission shall
88	90		prepare an annual report of the usage of crisis centers and the
89	91		services provided by the centers.
90	92		(b) The commission shall present the annual report to the
91	93		legislature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
92	94		Administration.
93	95		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.