LSL C.S.H.B. 3315 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC HEALTH
C.S.H.B. 3315
By: Solis
3-26-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND 

Although great efforts have been made to provide Texans with the best
possible mental health services, widespread disparity in funding and
delivery of services still exists.   

PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 3315 requires the Texas Dept. Of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation (MHMR) to prepare a plan addressing diparity in funding and
services.  

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.  Subsection (a) requires MHMR to prepare a plan for
presentation to and consideration by the legislature that details a
mechanism for and the costs of providing state mental health treatment
services equally in all regions of the state. 

Subsection (b) requires the plan to include specific recommendations for
acquiring or disposing of facilities, and necessary changes to state law
and the MHMR budget. 

Subsection (c) requires the plan to provide for each region of the state
to have available a similar amount or level of service per capita,
including the same number of beds; and equalized funding for services in
each region of the state, adjusted for population density and relative
prosperity o the region. 

Subsection (d) allows the plan to provide for dividing the state into
service regions while enhancing the public's access to services in
sparsely populated or economically disadvantaged areas.  Allows the
service regions to be of unequal size. 

SECTION 2.  Requires MHMR to begin developing the plan as soon after the
effective date as practicable.  Allows MHMR, in developing the plan, to
consult with any state agency.  Requires the plan to be completed no later
than September 30, 1998.  Requires MHMR to present the plan to the
governor, the speaker, the lt. governor, and the presiding officers of the
House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the
senate and house committees with jurisdiction over MHMR. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.  Effective upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSHB 3315 makes a technical correction to amend Section 2 by striking "the
Senate Ways and Means Committee" and replacing it with the "Senate Finance
Committee."