By: Kolkhorst, et al.	S.B. No. 633

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to an initiative to increase the capacity of local mental
	health authorities to provide access to mental health services in
	certain counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 531.0221 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.0221.  INITIATIVE TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH
	SERVICES CAPACITY IN RURAL AREAS. (a)  In this section, "local
	mental health authority group" means a group of local mental health
	authorities established under Subsection (b)(2).
	(b)  Not later than January 1, 2020, the commission, using
	existing resources, shall:
	(1)  identify each local mental health authority that
	is located in a county with a population of 250,000 or less or that
	the commission determines provides services predominantly in a
	county with a population of 250,000 or less;
	(2)  in a manner that the commission determines will
	best achieve the reductions described by Subsection (d), assign the
	authorities identified under Subdivision (1) to regional groups of
	at least two authorities; and
	(3)  notify each authority identified under
	Subdivision (1):
	(A)  that the commission has identified the
	authority under that subdivision; and
	(B)  which local mental health authority group the
	commission assigned the authority to under Subdivision (2).
	(c)  The commission, using existing resources, shall develop
	a mental health services development plan for each local mental
	health authority group that will increase the capacity of the
	authorities in the group to provide access to needed services.
	(d)  In developing a plan under Subsection (c), the
	commission shall focus on reducing:
	(1)  the cost to local governments of providing
	services to persons experiencing a mental health crisis;
	(2)  the transportation of persons served by an
	authority in the local mental health authority group to mental
	health facilities;
	(3)  the incarceration of persons with mental illness
	in county jails that are located in an area served by an authority
	in the local mental health authority group; and
	(4)  the number of hospital emergency room visits by
	persons with mental illness at hospitals located in an area served
	by an authority in the local mental health authority group.
	(e)  In developing a plan under Subsection (c):
	(1)  the commission shall assess the capacity of the
	authorities in the local mental health authority group to provide
	access to needed services; and
	(2)  the commission and the local mental health
	authority group shall evaluate:
	(A)  whether and to what degree increasing the
	capacity of the authorities in the local mental health authority
	group to provide access to needed services would offset the cost to
	state or local governmental entities of:
	(i)  the transportation of persons for
	mental health services to facilities that are not local providers;
	(ii)  admissions to and inpatient
	hospitalizations at state hospitals or other treatment facilities;
	(iii)  the provision of services by hospital
	emergency rooms to persons with mental illness who are served by or
	reside in an area served by an authority in the local mental health
	authority group; and
	(iv)  the incarceration in county jails of
	persons with mental illness who are served by or reside in an area
	served by an authority in the local mental health authority group;
	(B)  whether available state funds or grant
	funding sources could be used to fund the plan; and
	(C)  what measures would be necessary to ensure
	that the plan aligns with the statewide behavioral health strategic
	plan and the comprehensive inpatient mental health plan.
	(f)  In each mental health services development plan
	produced under this section, the commission, in collaboration with
	the local mental health authority group, shall determine a method
	of increasing the capacity of the authorities in the local mental
	health authority group to provide access to needed services.
	(g)  The commission shall compile and evaluate each mental
	health services development plan produced under this section and
	determine:
	(1)  the cost-effectiveness of each plan; and
	(2)  how each plan would improve the delivery of mental
	health treatment and care to residents in the service areas of the
	authorities in the local mental health authority group.
	(h)  Not later than December 1, 2020, the commission, using
	existing resources, shall produce and publish on its Internet
	website a report containing:
	(1)  the commission's evaluation of each plan under
	Subsection (g);
	(2)  each mental health services development plan
	evaluated by the commission under Subsection (g); and
	(3)  a comprehensive statewide analysis of mental
	health services in counties with a population of 250,000 or less,
	including recommendations to the legislature for implementing the
	plans developed under this section.
	(i)  The commission and the authorities in each local mental
	health authority group may implement a mental health services
	development plan evaluated by the commission under this section if
	the commission and the local mental health authority group to which
	the plan applies identify a method of funding that implementation.
	(j)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
	SECTION 2.  The Health and Human Services Commission is
	required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
	legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If
	the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
	purpose, the Health and Human Services Commission may, but is not
	required to, implement a provision of this Act using other
	appropriations available for that purpose.
	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, 2019.