By: Maxey H.B. No. 1713 73R4944 CBH-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the use of clozaril 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 CLOZARIL FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS. (a) 1-7 The department shall place on a clozaril treatment plan each 1-8 patient in a state hospital for whom the treatment is medically 1-9 feasible and appropriate. 1-10 (b) If a patient in a state hospital responds to a clozaril 1-11 treatment plan to the extent that the patient can be released from 1-12 the hospital, the department shall: 1-13 (1) assist the patient in applying for disability 1-14 benefits and for Medicaid if the patient is potentially eligible; 1-15 (2) place the patient in a community setting with 1-16 continuing clozaril treatments and medical monitoring; 1-17 (3) provide or ensure that the patient is provided 1-18 supportive housing, rehabilitation services, and job placement, as 1-19 appropriate; and 1-20 (4) provide outpatient care at state hospitals or 1-21 require a local mental health authority to provide outpatient care, 1-22 as appropriate. 1-23 (c) The department shall use facility beds vacated by 1-24 patients released through the use of clozaril only for: 2-1 (1) low-risk inmates who need drug or alcohol abuse 2-2 treatment; and 2-3 (2) patients who need inpatient acute care services. 2-4 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-5 (b) Not later than January 1, 1994, the Texas Department of 2-6 Mental Health and Mental Retardation shall place on a clozaril 2-7 treatment plan each patient in a state hospital for whom the 2-8 treatment is medically feasible and appropriate, as required by 2-9 Section 533.044, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. 2-10 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.