S.B. 490 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 490
By: Shapleigh
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

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

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

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