SRC-CTC S.B. 1469 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1469
2001S0723/1By: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
4/2/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1469 creates the Adult Assertive Community Treatment
(ACT) pilot program in Tarrant County to provide clinical and
rehabilitative services to adults who have a history of mental or
behavioral health problems.  The ACT team consists of licensed or degreed
professionals in the clinical treatment or rehabilitation field who are
responsible for administering the program through the use of an integrated
service approach to assist targeted individuals in an attempt to keep them
out of the criminal justice system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 533B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
533.048, as follows: 

Sec. 533.048.  ADULT ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
Defines "ACT pilot program," "ACT team," and "targeted adults.   

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
(department) to establish an Adult Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
pilot program in Tarrant County, to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and
support services to targeted adults in Tarrant County.  Requires the ACT
pilot program to be modeled on other Assertive Community Treatment programs
that have been established across the state by the department. 

(c) Requires the department to create an ACT team consisting of degreed or
licensed professionals in the clinical treatment or rehabilitation fields
to be responsible for administering the ACT pilot program.  Requires the
professionals chosen for the ACT team to include a full-time registered
nurse, who will provide direct services to the targeted adults, and a
psychiatrist, who will be available to the ACT pilot program for a minimum
of 10 hours per week.  Requires the ACT team to maintain a ratio of not
less than one ACT team member for each 10 targeted adults, with a maximum
of 20 targeted adults receiving services at any one time. 
 
(d) Requires the ACT team, in administering the ACT pilot program, to
provide and maintain certain services. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the department, not later than January 15, 2003, to
submit to the governor and the legislature a report concerning the
effectiveness of the Adult Assertive Community Treatment pilot program
established under Section 533.048, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act. 

 SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.