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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the payment of costs for certain mental health hearings |
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or proceedings and a county's entitlement to reimbursement for |
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those costs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 571.018(d) and (i), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A county is entitled to reimbursement for costs actually |
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paid by the county from[: |
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[(1) the patient; or |
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[(2)] a person or estate liable for the patient's |
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support in a department mental health facility. |
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(i) The county may not require a person [other than the |
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patient] to pay any costs associated with a hearing or proceeding |
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under this subtitle, including a filing fee or other court costs |
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imposed under Chapter 118, Local Government Code, Chapter 51, |
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Government Code, or other law, unless the county first determines |
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that[: |
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[(1) the costs relate to services provided or to be |
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provided in a private mental hospital; or |
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[(2)] the person charged with the costs is a person or |
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estate liable for the patient's support in a department mental |
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health facility. |
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SECTION 2. Section 571.018(h), Health and Safety Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a cost incurred on or after the effective date of this Act. A cost |
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incurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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laws in effect at that time, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |