H.B. No. 865
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to an increase in federal funding for mental health
    1-3  services for children and families.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety
    1-6  Code, is amended by adding Section 533.046 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 533.046.  FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
    1-8  CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.  (a)  The department shall enter into an
    1-9  interagency agreement with the Texas Department of Human Services
   1-10  to:
   1-11              (1)  amend the eligibility requirements of the state's
   1-12  emergency assistance plan under Title IV-A, Social Security Act (42
   1-13  U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.), to include mental health emergencies;
   1-14  and
   1-15              (2)  prescribe the procedures the agencies will use to
   1-16  delegate to the department and to local mental health and mental
   1-17  retardation authorities the administration of mental health
   1-18  emergency assistance.
   1-19        (b)  The interagency agreement must provide that:
   1-20              (1)  the department certify to the Texas Department of
   1-21  Human Services the nonfederal expenditures for which the state will
   1-22  claim federal matching funds; and
   1-23              (2)  the Texas Department of Human Services retain
   1-24  responsibility for making final eligibility decisions.
    2-1        (c)  The department shall allocate to local mental health and
    2-2  mental retardation authorities 66 percent of the federal funds
    2-3  received under this section.
    2-4        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-5  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-6  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-7  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-8  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-9  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-10  passage, and it is so enacted.