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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1191

By: Burkett

Technology

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Using recent census data, the Department of State Health Services has estimated that there are nearly half a million adults and more than 150,000 children living with a mental illness in Texas. Interested parties note that, while the mission of the Texas Information and Referral Network Internet site is to assist Texas citizens in obtaining necessary health and human services, the site does not provide information about housing for persons with mental illness. C.S.H.B. 1191 seeks to address this issue.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 1191 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to make available through the Texas Information and Referral Network Internet site information regarding housing options for persons with mental illness provided by public or private entities throughout the state to serve as a single point of access through which a person may be directed on how or where to apply for housing for persons with mental illness in the person's community. The bill requires the site, to the extent resources are available, to be geographically indexed and designed to inform a person about the housing options for persons with mental illness provided in the area where the person lives. The bill requires the site to contain a searchable listing of available housing options for persons with mental illness by type, with a definition for each type of housing and an explanation of the populations of persons with mental illness generally served by that type of housing.  The bill sets out the types of housing for persons with mental illness that must be contained in the list, at a minimum.

 

C.S.H.B. 1191 requires the Internet site to indicate whether the provider that operates a housing facility named in the listing is licensed by the state and to display a disclaimer that the information provided is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement or recommendation of any type of housing or any housing facility. The bill requires each entity providing housing specifically for persons with mental illness in Texas, including the Department of State Health Services, municipalities, counties, other political subdivisions of this state, and private entities, to cooperate with the Texas Information and Referral Network as necessary in the administration of the bill's provisions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1191 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.03132 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.03132.  ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO REFERRAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.  (a)  The commission shall make available through the Texas Information and Referral Network Internet site established under Section 531.0313 information regarding housing options for persons with mental illness provided by public or private entities throughout the state.  The Internet site will serve as a single point of access through which a person may be directed on how or where to apply for housing for persons with mental illness in the person's community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)  To the extent resources are available, the Internet site must be geographically indexed and designed to inform a person about the housing options for persons with mental illness provided in the area where the person lives.

(c)  The Internet site must contain a searchable listing of available housing options for persons with mental illness by type, with a definition for each type of housing and an explanation of the populations of persons with mental illness generally served by that type of housing.  The list must contain at a minimum the following types of housing for persons with mental illness:

(1)  state hospitals;

(2)  step-down units in state hospitals;

(3)  community hospitals;

(4)  private psychiatric hospitals;

(5)  a provider of inpatient treatment services in the network of service providers assembled by a local mental health authority under Section 535.035(e);

 

(6)  assisted living facilities;

(7)  continuing care facilities;

(8)  boarding homes;

(9)  emergency shelters for homeless persons;

(10)  transitional housing intended to move homeless persons to permanent housing;

(11)  supportive housing, or long-term, community-based affordable housing that provides supportive services;

(12)  general residential operations, as defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code; and

(13)  residential treatment centers, or a type of general residential operation that provides services to children with emotional disorders in a structured and supportive environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)  Each entity providing housing specifically for persons with mental illness in this state, including the Department of State Health Services, municipalities, counties, other political subdivisions of this state, and private entities, shall cooperate with the Texas Information and Referral Network as necessary in the administration of this section.

 

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.03132 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.03132.  ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO REFERRAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.  (a)  The commission shall make available through the Texas Information and Referral Network Internet site established under Section 531.0313 information regarding housing options for persons with mental illness provided by public or private entities throughout the state.  The Internet site will serve as a single point of access through which a person may be directed on how or where to apply for housing for persons with mental illness in the person's community.  In this subsection, "private entity" includes any provider of housing specifically for persons with mental illness other than a state agency, municipality, county, or other political subdivision of this state, regardless of whether the provider accepts payment for providing housing for persons with mental illness.

(b)  To the extent resources are available, the Internet site must be geographically indexed and designed to inform a person about the housing options for persons with mental illness provided in the area where the person lives.

(c)  The Internet site must contain a searchable listing of available housing options for persons with mental illness by type, with a definition for each type of housing and an explanation of the populations of persons with mental illness generally served by that type of housing.  The list must contain at a minimum the following types of housing for persons with mental illness:

(1)  state hospitals;

(2)  step-down units in state hospitals;

(3)  community hospitals;

(4)  private psychiatric hospitals;

(5)  a provider of inpatient treatment services in the network of service providers assembled by a local mental health authority under Section 533.035(e), Health and Safety Code;

(6)  assisted living facilities;

(7)  continuing care facilities;

(8)  boarding homes;

(9)  emergency shelters for homeless persons;

(10)  transitional housing intended to move homeless persons to permanent housing;

(11)  supportive housing, or long-term, community-based affordable housing that provides supportive services;

(12)  general residential operations, as defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code; and

(13)  residential treatment centers, or a type of general residential operation that provides services to children with emotional disorders in a structured and supportive environment.

(d)  For each housing facility named in the listing of available housing options for persons with mental illness, the Internet site must indicate whether the provider that operates the housing facility is licensed by the state.

(e)  The Internet site must display a disclaimer that the information provided is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement or recommendation of any type of housing or any housing facility.

(f)  Each entity providing housing specifically for persons with mental illness in this state, including the Department of State Health Services, municipalities, counties, other political subdivisions of this state, and private entities, shall cooperate with the Texas Information and Referral Network as necessary in the administration of this section.

 

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, 2013.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.