H.B. 1347 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1347
By: Uresti
State Health Care Expenditures, Select
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Throughout Texas, thousands of people are on waiting lists for mental
health and mental retardation services.  According to the Task Force on
Equity of Resource Allocation, the combination of a large number of
uninsured, an expanding population, and a growing awareness of needs has
resulted in a growing demand for mental health and mental retardation
services across the country, particularly in Texas.   The Texas Department
of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) is now serving less than
one-third of the estimated priority population for these services.  Some
indicate that these waiting lists under-estimate the true need for
services, and the need will only continue to grow. 

Further compounding the shortage of services in Texas is the unequal
distribution of state funds allocated to local authorities to provide
mental health services.  The estimated current per-capita expenditure for
Mental Health Authorities (MHAs) ranges from $9.74 in Denton County, to
$30.00 at Lakes Regional Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center.  The
fair and equitable distribution of funds is critical given the fact that
Texas ranks forty-seventh in the nation in per-capita spending for mental
health services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1347 amends the Health and Safety Code by requiring the Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) to develop and
implement a plan that achieves equity in the distribution and funding of
mental health services among communities in this state no later than
September 1, 2009.  The bill requires the plan to address local and
statewide changes in population and in the need for TDMHMR services.  The
bill provides that the provisions set forth within the bill expire on
September 1, 2009. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all the members of each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III,
Texas Constitution.  If the Act does not receive the necessary vote for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.