Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5528 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R16114 EAS-F
2	2	By: Louderback H.B. No. 5528
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the establishment of the Texas Law Enforcement Crisis
10	10	Prevention Task Force.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
13	13	amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows:
14	14	CHAPTER 786. TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT CRISIS PREVENTION TASK FORCE
15	15	Sec. 786.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
16	16	(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
17	17	Commission.
18	18	(2) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by
19	19	Section 421.095, Government Code.
20	20	(3) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the
21	21	state or of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law
22	22	to appoint or employ peace officers.
23	23	(4) "Local mental health authority" has the meaning
24	24	assigned by Section 571.003.
25	25	(5) "Task force" means the Texas Law Enforcement
26	26	Crisis Prevention Task Force established by this chapter.
27	27	Sec. 786.002. ESTABLISHMENT. The task force is established
28	28	to facilitate collaboration among law enforcement agencies, local
29	29	mental health authorities, and other key stakeholders for purposes
30	30	of developing strategies for improving coordination and
31	31	streamlining processes between local mental health authorities,
32	32	law enforcement agencies, and first responders when responding to a
33	33	crisis situation.
34	34	Sec. 786.003. COMPOSITION. The governor shall appoint the
35	35	membership of the task force. The task force must include:
36	36	(1) representatives from:
37	37	(A) the commission;
38	38	(B) the Department of Public Safety of the State
39	39	of Texas;
40	40	(C) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement;
41	41	(D) municipal and county law enforcement
42	42	agencies;
43	43	(E) local mental health authorities; and
44	44	(F) fire departments;
45	45	(2) emergency medical services personnel; and
46	46	(3) advocacy groups focused on mental health and
47	47	crisis prevention.
48	48	Sec. 786.004. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
49	49	designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer
50	50	of the task force.
51	51	Sec. 786.005. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be
52	52	filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
53	53	Sec. 786.006. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at least
54	54	quarterly at the call of the presiding officer.
55	55	Sec. 786.007. DUTIES. The task force shall:
56	56	(1) identify and address gaps in the coordination of
57	57	services between law enforcement agencies, local mental health
58	58	authorities, and first responders;
59	59	(2) develop recommendations for improving crisis
60	60	response, including recommendations for training programs and best
61	61	practices for law enforcement agencies and first responders;
62	62	(3) identify technological solutions to enhance
63	63	crisis response coordination, including by evaluating how entities
64	64	share data and communicate for purposes of improving service
65	65	delivery; and
66	66	(4) explore funding opportunities to support crisis
67	67	intervention initiatives and the provision of mental health
68	68	services.
69	69	Sec. 786.008. SUBCOMMITTEES ON SPECIFIC ISSUES. The task
70	70	force may establish subcommittees to address specific issues,
71	71	including:
72	72	(1) rural mental health response;
73	73	(2) data integration; and
74	74	(3) specialized crisis intervention training.
75	75	Sec. 786.009. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission and
76	76	the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall provide
77	77	administrative support to the task force, including reasonably
78	78	necessary administrative and technical support.
79	79	Sec. 786.010. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
80	80	Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
81	81	Sec. 786.011. REPORT. (a) Not later than September 1 of
82	82	each even-numbered year, the task force shall prepare and submit a
83	83	written report on the task force's activities to the governor, the
84	84	lieutenant governor, and the legislature that:
85	85	(1) summarizes findings on present challenges in
86	86	crisis response;
87	87	(2) identifies best practices for the provision of
88	88	crisis services, as determined through stakeholder input; and
89	89	(3) includes recommendations for:
90	90	(A) improving coordination between law
91	91	enforcement agencies, local mental health authorities, and first
92	92	responders; and
93	93	(B) legislative or other actions to improve
94	94	crisis intervention efforts.
95	95	(b) The commission shall publish the report under
96	96	Subsection (a) on the commission's Internet website.
97	97	Sec. 786.012. FUNDING. The task force may accept gifts,
98	98	grants, and donations to accomplish the purposes of the task force.
99	99	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
100	100	of this Act, the governor shall appoint the members of the Texas Law
101	101	Enforcement Crisis Prevention Task Force established by Chapter
102	102	786, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
103	103	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
104	104	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
105	105	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
106	106	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
107	107	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.