H.B. 1349 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1349
By: Uresti
State Health Care Expenditures, Select
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Until the age of three, all children with mental health needs are entitled
to services from the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention
(ECI council).  However, after the age of three, children with mental
health needs become the responsibility of the Texas Department of Mental
Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) and school districts.  Therefore,
children three years of age and older who were once entitled to services
may no longer be eligible to receive these services.  As proposed, S.B.
490 directs MHMR and the ECI council to jointly develop a continuum of
care for children younger than seven years of age who have mental illness,
and a plan to increase the expertise of MHMR's service providers of mental
health issues for this population.  This bill also directs MHMR and the
ECI council to coordinate, when practical, activities and services
involving children with mental illness and their families.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 533.040, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (d), to require the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation (MHMR) and the Interagency Council on Early Childhood
Intervention (ECI council) to jointly develop certain programs, relating
to care for certain children and expertise on issues involving certain
children, and coordinate, if practicable, MHMR and ECI council activities
and services involving children with mental illness and their families.    

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage or September 1, 2003.