TO: | Honorable Suzanna Gratia Hupp, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB2967 by Martinez (Relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
---|---|
2006 | ($117,000) |
2007 | ($117,000) |
2008 | ($117,000) |
2009 | ($117,000) |
2010 | ($117,000) |
Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
---|---|
2006 | ($117,000) |
2007 | ($117,000) |
2008 | ($117,000) |
2009 | ($117,000) |
2010 | ($117,000) |
The bill would amend Section 574.045 (a) of the Health and Safety Code, relating to transportation of certain mental health patients. The bill would designate the priority order of parties responsible for the transportation of patients committed to a mental health facility. The priority order would be as follows: 1) a relative or other responsible person 2) a mental health facility administrator 3) a special officer for mental health assignment 4) the local mental health authority and 5) a sheriff or constable, if none of the above are available.
The bill would add a new section (a-1), which would set out separate priority order for counties located on the Texas-Mexico border with populations of 500,000 or more and adjacent to two or more counties with populations of 50,000 or more. The priority order would be as follows: 1) a relative or other responsible person 2) a mental health facility administrator 3) the local mental health authority 4) a special officer for mental health assignment and 5) a sheriff or constable, if none of the above are available. The Department of State Health Services may reimburse both the special officer for mental health and the sheriff or constable, if funds are appropriated for this purpose, or as provided by section 571.018.
The bill would add a new section (a-2), which specifies that a person authorized under section (a-1) to transport a patient may contract with a third party to provide the transportation service.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
The cost of the bill relates to the court-authorized transfers from counties described in subsection (a-1). The only county that fits the description of this section is Hidalgo county. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) estimates 180 transports per year, based on FY 2004 data on the number of patients transported from Rio Grande State Center to the San Antonio State Hospital. The cost per transport is assumed to be $650, for a total yearly cost of $117,000 in General Revenue. The transports assumed here are an estimate of the number that would be made by the special officer for mental health or the sheriff/constable. The average cost reflects the specialized training and vehicles that are necessary for these transports.
Source Agencies: | 539 Department of Aging and Disability Services, 537 Department of State Health Services
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LBB Staff: | JOB, KF, KJG, MB, CL, PP
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