By Hilbert                                            H.B. No. 2448
         76R356 JJT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the administration of psychoactive medication to
 1-3     minors.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 576.025(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to
 1-8     a patient receiving voluntary or involuntary mental health services
 1-9     who refuses the administration unless:
1-10                 (1)  the patient is having a medication-related
1-11     emergency;
1-12                 (2)  the [patient is younger than 16 years of age and
1-13     the] patient's parent, managing conservator, or guardian consents
1-14     to the  administration on behalf of the patient and the patient:
1-15                       (A)  is younger than 18 years of age;
1-16                       (B)  is unmarried; and
1-17                       (C)  has not had the disabilities of minority
1-18     removed;
1-19                 (3)  the refusing patient's representative authorized
1-20     by law to consent on behalf of the patient has consented to the
1-21     administration;
1-22                 (4)  the administration of the medication regardless of
1-23     the patient's refusal is authorized by an order issued under
1-24     Section 574.106; or
 2-1                 (5)  the patient is receiving court-ordered mental
 2-2     health services authorized by an order issued under Article 46.02
 2-3     or 46.03, Code of Criminal Procedure.
 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.