Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 978	House Author:  Raymond
Effective:  9-1-13	Senate Sponsor:  Zaffirini

            House Bill 978 amends the Health and Safety Code to place a relative or other responsible person who has a proper interest in a patient's welfare and who receives no remuneration, except for actual and necessary expenses, at the bottom of the prioritized list of people who may be authorized by a court to transport to a mental health facility a patient committed to the facility or admitted to the facility for emergency detention. The bill prohibits a person from transporting a patient to a mental health facility in another state for court-ordered inpatient mental health services unless transportation to that facility is authorized by a court order.