By Turner of Harris H.B. No. 1901
77R6566 DAK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to juveniles with mental health and substance abuse
1-3 disorders.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Sections 614.018 and 614.019 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 614.018. STUDY AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR JUVENILES.
1-8 (a) The council shall conduct a study and develop a comprehensive
1-9 plan for juveniles with mental health and substance abuse disorders
1-10 who are involved in or who are at risk of becoming involved in the
1-11 juvenile justice system.
1-12 (b) The plan must address:
1-13 (1) a process to define and identify juveniles with
1-14 mental health and substance abuse disorders who come in contact
1-15 with the juvenile justice system, including recommendations on
1-16 uniform screenings, assessment procedures, sharing of information
1-17 between entities, and a data collection and reporting process;
1-18 (2) a process to improve the coordination and
1-19 communication among local and state entities, including a review of
1-20 existing models of collaboration and opportunities for
1-21 cross-training among relevant entities;
1-22 (3) a review of mental health and substance abuse
1-23 interventions that have proven to be effective for juvenile
1-24 offenders with mental health and substance abuse disorders,
2-1 including an analysis of:
2-2 (A) community-based, residential, institutional,
2-3 and aftercare treatment services; and
2-4 (B) early intervention for young children at
2-5 high risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system; and
2-6 (4) a review of applicable federal, state, and local
2-7 policy, procedure, rules, regulations, and financial or
2-8 programmatic barriers that may impact the development and
2-9 implementation of a comprehensive juvenile justice plan.
2-10 (c) The council shall include representatives of the
2-11 following persons that it considers necessary in the preparation of
2-12 the study and plan:
2-13 (1) local and state juvenile justice entities;
2-14 (2) mental health entities;
2-15 (3) substance abuse groups;
2-16 (4) educational groups;
2-17 (5) service providers;
2-18 (6) family members of juveniles;
2-19 (7) advocacy organizations;
2-20 (8) the Department of Protective and Regulatory
2-21 Services; and
2-22 (9) any other group or entity.
2-23 (d) The council shall submit the study and plan, including
2-24 recommendations and projected funding to implement the plan, to the
2-25 lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
2-26 and the members of the legislature on or before December 1, 2002.
2-27 (e) This section expires December 1, 2002.
3-1 Sec. 614.019. PILOT PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES. The council, in
3-2 cooperation with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
3-3 the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the
3-4 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the Texas
3-5 Juvenile Probation Commission, the Texas Youth Commission, and the
3-6 Texas Education Agency, may establish pilot programs, building on
3-7 existing successful efforts in communities, to address prevention,
3-8 intervention, and continuity of care for juveniles with mental
3-9 health and substance abuse disorders.
3-10 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-11 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-12 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-13 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-14 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.