BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2725 By: Hirschi April 4, 1995 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Wichita Falls State Hospital, in Wichita County, provides mental health services to 52 counties in Texas. Many of the patients in this hospital are court committed. The Wichita County Criminal District Attorney's office handles an average of 90 mental health cases per month. 63% of these cases are for residents of counties other than Wichita. Other counties already reimburse Wichita County for filing fees, service fees, and court-appointed attorney fees. Prosecutors fees, however, are not reimbursed. Taxpayers of Wichita County, therefore, effectively fund the trying of cases which benefit other counties. PURPOSE This bill allows the Wichita County District Attorney's office to be reimbursed for prosecuting mental health cases where the proposed patient is a resident of a county other than Wichita. Reimbursement would be not more than the rate for the court- appointed attorney representing the patient for the same hearing. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1. Amends 44.343 (b) of the Texas Government Code by entitling the Wichita County criminal district attorney to be reimbursed for prosecuting Chapter 574, Health and Safety Code cases in which the patient is not from Wichita County. Reimbursement shall be at the same rate for the court-appointed attorney representing the patient for the same hearing. Section 2. Effective Date Section 3. Emergency Clause SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 2725 was considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public hearing on 3/29/95. Representative Hirschi opened. Barry Macha, representing himself, testified in favor of HB 2725. Representative Hirschi closed. HB 2725 was reported favorably with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by the record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.