SRC-VRA C.S.S.B. 990 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 990
By: Armbrister
Health & Human Services
5/21/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current criteria for admissions to state schools for the mentally retarded
limit the number of applicants offered admission.  C.S.S.B. 990 changes
the criteria for admissions to allow admission to certain persons for whom
an application for voluntary admission is filed.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Mental
Health and Mental Retardation in SECTION 1 (Section 593.0225, Health and
Safety Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 593B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
593.0225, as follows: 

Sec.  593.0225.  CRITERIA FOR VOLUNTARY ADMISSION; WAITING LIST.  (a)
Requires the Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (board)
by rule to provide that a state school shall admit any person with mental
retardation for whom an application for voluntary admission is filed, if
certain criteria are met. 

(b)  Requires each state school to maintain a waiting list of persons who
desire voluntary admission to a state school and who were denied admission
because of lack of bed space. 

(c)  Requires the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
(TDMHMR) to ensure that persons seeking state services for a person with
mental retardation are informed of the criteria established in rules
adopted under Subsection (a), of the waiting list required by Subsection
(b), and of the addresses and telephone numbers of each state school.   

(d)  Authorizes the board to adopt rules to facilitate the application
process for voluntary admission to a state school, the maintenance of the
waiting list required by Subsection (b), and the provision of information
as required by Subsection (c). 

SECTION 2.  Requires TDMHMR to ensure that persons on a waiting list
maintained by a mental retardation authority for admission to a state
school are informed of certain information. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.
                      Makes application of this Act prospective.