By Maxey                                              H.B. No. 1713
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the use of certain drugs for schizophrenics and to the
    1-3  use of facility beds vacated by schizophrenic patients through the
    1-4  use of a certain treatment program.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety
    1-7  Code, is amended by adding Section 533.044 to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 533.044.  USE OF CERTAIN DRUGS FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS.
    1-9  (a)  The department may place on a clozapine treatment plan each
   1-10  patient in a state hospital for whom the treatment is medically
   1-11  feasible and appropriate.  The department may place a patient on a
   1-12  treatment plan using a drug other than clozapine if the drug
   1-13  produces results that are similar to or better than clozapine in
   1-14  treating schizophrenics.
   1-15        (b)  If a patient in a state hospital responds to a treatment
   1-16  plan required or authorized by Subsection (a) to the extent that
   1-17  the patient can be discharged from the hospital, the department
   1-18  may:
   1-19              (1)  assist the patient in applying for disability
   1-20  benefits and for Medicaid if the patient is potentially eligible;
   1-21              (2)  place the patient in a community setting with
   1-22  continuing drug treatments and with medical monitoring;
   1-23              (3)  provide or ensure that the patient is provided
   1-24  supportive housing, rehabilitation services, and job placement, as
    2-1  appropriate; and
    2-2              (4)  provide outpatient care at state hospitals or
    2-3  require a local mental health authority to provide outpatient care,
    2-4  as appropriate.
    2-5        (c)  The department shall use facility beds vacated by
    2-6  patients discharged through the use of a treatment plan allowed by
    2-7  Subsection (a) only for:
    2-8              (1)  low-risk inmates who need drug or alcohol abuse
    2-9  treatment; and
   2-10              (2)  patients who need inpatient acute care services.
   2-11        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   2-12        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-13  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-14  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-15  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-16  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.