BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1659
                                           By: Naishtat (Sponsor)
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                         05-04-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no statutory language regarding the
representation of mental health consumers on the Texas Board of
Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1659 requires at least one member of the Texas
Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to be a consumer of
services for persons with mental illness or mental retardation, or
a family member of a consumer of those services.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 532.003(b), Health and Safety Code, to
require at least one member of the Texas Board of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation (board) to be a consumer of services for persons
with mental illness or mental retardation, or a family member of a
consumer of those services.

SECTION 2. Requires the governor, if no member of the board serving
on the effective date of this Act meets the qualifications imposed
by the Act, to appoint a person meeting those qualifications to the
first vacancy occurring after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.