HBA-MPM S.B. 261 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 261
By: Moncrief
Public Health
4/9/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the North Texas State Hospital, formerly known as
the Vernon Wichita Falls State Hospital, is included under the Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (department).  S.B. 261
acknowledges the name change of this facility, deletes certain facilities
from the department, and provides for transfers of operations and services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 532.001(b), Health and Safety Code, by including
the North Texas State Hospital, rather than the Vernon Wichita Falls State
Hospital, among those facilities comprising the Texas Department of Mental
Health and Mental Retardation (department).  Deletes from this list the
following facilities: the Harris County Psychiatric Center, the Dallas
Mental Health Connections, the El Paso Psychiatric Hospital, and the
Lubbock Psychiatric Hospital. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety Code, by
adding Section 533.0345, as follows: 

Sec. 533.0345.  AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER SERVICES TO COMMUNITY CENTERS.
Authorizes the department to transfer operations of and services provided
at the Amarillo State Center, Beaumont State Center, or Laredo State Center
to a community center established under Chapter 534 (Community Services),
Health and Safety Code. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 571.003 (21), Health and Safety Code, to delete
an inpatient mental health facility included in Section 532.001(b), Health
and Safety Code, from the definition of "state mental hospital." 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 574.041, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: 

(a)  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

(d)  Provides that "facility of a single portal authority" includes a
private mental hospital under contract with a single portal authority. 

SECTION 5.  Repealer:  Chapter 596 (Public Responsibility Committees),
Health and Safety Code. 

SECTION 6.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.