By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 490
	(In the Senate - Filed February 14, 2003; February 19, 2003, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 
Services; April 2, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 6, Nays 1; April 2, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to developing and coordinating certain agency services and 
activities involving mental health care for young children.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 533.040, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The department and the Interagency Council on Early 
Childhood Intervention shall:
		(1)  jointly develop:                                                  
			(A)  a continuum of care for children younger than 
seven years of age who have mental illness; and
			(B)  a plan to increase the expertise of the 
department's service providers in mental health issues involving 
children younger than seven years of age; and
		(2)  coordinate, if practicable, department and 
council activities and services involving children with mental 
illness and their families.
	SECTION 2.  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.



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