BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2094
                                           By: Thompson (Sponsor)
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                         05-12-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Section 4.03, Family Code, considers a person who marries an adult
for most purposes.  Concerning voluntary admittance to an inpatient
mental health facility, however, current law does not regard a
person younger than 16 years of age who is married as an adult
permitted to request admission.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2094 authorizes a person younger than 16 years of
age who is or has been married to request admission to an inpatient
mental health facility, and authorizes the administrator of such a
facility to admit the person.

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 Sections 572.001(a) and (d), Health and Safety
Code, as follows:

     (a) Authorizes a person younger than 16 years of age who is or
     has been married to request admission to an inpatient mental
     health facility.  Authorizes the parent, managing conservator,
     or guardian of a person younger than 16 years of age who is
     not and has not been married to request the admission of the
     person to an inpatient mental health facility.
     
     (d) Authorizes the administrator of an inpatient mental health
     facility to admit a minor who is younger than 16 years of age
     who is or has been married to an inpatient mental health
     facility as a voluntary patient.
     
     SECTION 2.     Amends Section 572.002, Health and Safety Code, to
authorize the facility administrator or designee of an inpatient
mental health facility to admit a person if the administrator or
designee determines, among other factors, that the admission was
voluntarily agreed to by the person, if the person is 16 years of
age or older, or younger than 16 years of age and is or has been
married; or by the person's parent, managing conservator, or
guardian, if the person is younger than 16 years of age and is not
and has not been married.

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