1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the medication a patient receives after being
 1-3     furloughed or discharged from inpatient mental health services.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 574.081, Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (h) to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           (c)  The plan must address the patient's mental health and
 1-9     physical needs, including, if appropriate:
1-10                 (1)  the need for sufficient medication on furlough or
1-11     discharge to last until the patient can see a physician; and
1-12                 (2)  the person or entity that is responsible for
1-13     providing and paying for the medication.
1-14           (h)  Subsection (c) does not create a mandate that a facility
1-15     described by Section 571.003(9)(B) or (E) provide or pay for a
1-16     medication for a patient.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the House on May
         5, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
         No. 2004 on May 25, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 1,
         2 present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2004 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 22, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0, 1 present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor