78R636 SMJ-D

By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 492



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an evaluation of public funding for children's mental 
health services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The Health and Human Services Commission 
shall review and evaluate all sources of public funding for 
programs in this state that provide mental health services to 
children, including programs provided by the juvenile justice 
system, the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the 
Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments, and the Texas 
Education Agency.
	(b)  The evaluation must describe each program and the 
services it provides, the sources of funding for the program, and 
the purposes for which the funds are used.  The evaluation also must 
include:
		(1)  recommendations regarding future funding for 
those programs, including sources and amounts, and opportunities 
for coordinating funding between different agencies; and
		(2)  a determination of whether more effective methods 
exist for funding children's mental health services in this state.
	(c)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall report on 
the results of the evaluation to the 79th Legislature not later than 
January 11, 2005.
	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.