By Maxey H.B. No. 1713 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1713: By McCall C.S.H.B. No. 1713 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the use of certain drugs for schizophrenics. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety 1-5 Code, is amended by adding Section 533.044 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 533.044. USE OF CERTAIN DRUGS FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS. 1-7 (a) The department shall place on a clozapine treatment plan each 1-8 patient in a state hospital for whom the treatment is medically 1-9 feasible and appropriate. The department may place a patient on a 1-10 treatment plan using a drug other than clozapine if the drug 1-11 produces results that are similar to or better than clozapine in 1-12 treating schizophrenics. 1-13 (b) If a patient in a state hospital responds to a treatment 1-14 plan required or authorized by Subsection (a) to the extent that 1-15 the patient can be discharged from the hospital, the department 1-16 shall: 1-17 (1) assist the patient in applying for disability 1-18 benefits and for Medicaid if the patient is potentially eligible; 1-19 (2) place the patient in a community setting with 1-20 continuing drug treatments and with medical monitoring; 1-21 (3) provide or ensure that the patient is provided 1-22 supportive housing, rehabilitation services, and job placement, as 1-23 appropriate; and 1-24 (4) provide outpatient care at state hospitals or 2-1 require a local mental health authority to provide outpatient care, 2-2 as appropriate. 2-3 (c) The department may use facility beds vacated by patients 2-4 discharged through the use of a treatment plan required or 2-5 authorized by Subsection (a) for other appropriate uses. 2-6 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-7 (b) Not later than January 1, 1994, the Texas Department of 2-8 Mental Health and Mental Retardation shall place on a treatment 2-9 plan using clozapine or another drug producing results similar to 2-10 or better than clozapine in treating schizophrenics each patient in 2-11 a state hospital for whom the treatment is medically feasible and 2-12 appropriate, as required by Section 533.044, Health and Safety 2-13 Code, as added by this Act. 2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.