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.