Honorable Dianne White Delisi, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB778 by Harris (Relating to the use of certain technology to conduct certain mental health proceedings. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to authorize a court to conduct certain hearings regarding an application for emergency detention and court-ordered mental health services by secure electronic communication means if certain conditions are met. If a hearing is conducted using an electronic communication method, the court would be required to provide for a recording to be made of the hearing and preserved until any appellate proceedings have concluded. The court would be required to provide, upon request by a proposed patient, a copy of the recording for a reasonable fee to cover the cost of the copy or for free if the proposed patient is indigent.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.