H.B. No. 1713 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 may use facility beds vacated by patients 2-6 discharged through the use of a treatment plan allowed by 2-7 Subsection (a) for other appropriate uses. 2-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.