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Senate Bill 1889 |
Senate Author: Eltife |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: Lavender |
Senate Bill 1889 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), on petition by a state or local authority of another state, to enter into a reciprocal agreement with that authority to facilitate the return of a person committed to mental health facilities in Texas to the person's state of residence unless DSHS determines that the terms of the agreement are not acceptable. The bill establishes minimum requirements for such a reciprocal agreement relating to development of a process for returning persons committed to mental health facilities to their state of residence and requires DSHS to coordinate, as appropriate, with a mental health facility, a mental hospital, health service providers, courts, and law enforcement personnel located in the geographic area nearest the petitioning state. The bill creates an exception to the requirement that the state returning a committed patient to another state bear the expense of returning the patient if a cost-sharing arrangement is included in the reciprocal agreement.