Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3427 by Lavender (Relating to the transport of a mental health patient who is not a resident of this state.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 571 of the Health and Safety Code relating to the transport of a mental patient who is not a resident of this state. The bill would allow the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to enter into reciprocal agreements with a state or local authorities to facilitate the return of persons committed to mental health facilities in this state or another state to the state of their residence. Under the provisions of the bill, the state returning the committed patient to another state would bear the costs, unless the state agrees to share costs under the reciprocal agreement. Based on the analysis provided by DSHS, it is assumed that the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.