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Amend SB 200 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 2 of the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the ARTICLE accordingly:
SECTION 2.____. Subchapter A, Chapter 552, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 552.0012 to read as follows:
Sec. 552.0012. STUDY REGARDING NEW LOCATION FOR AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL. (a) The commission, in coordination with the department, the General Land Office, and the Texas Facilities Commission, shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility, costs, and benefits of transferring operation of the Austin State Hospital from the hospital's facilities as of January 1, 2015, to a new facility at a new location.
(b) The study conducted under this section must consider potential locations and facilities for the operation of the Austin State Hospital that are owned by the state and that are not owned by the state. For each potential location, the study must consider:
(1) property and facility costs, including costs associated with purchasing or leasing facilities;
(2) ease of public access by main roads and public transportation; and
(3) capacity to accommodate the complete operation of the Austin State Hospital without overcrowding or interference in the delivery of services to patients.
(c) In considering property and facility costs of a potential location for the Austin State Hospital under Subsection (b)(1), the study must assume that proceeds from the sale or lease of the Austin State Hospital's facilities as of January 1, 2015, would be used for the payment of property and facility costs of a new location.
(d) The commission, in conducting the study, shall obtain input from appropriate stakeholders and from the public at public hearings held in locations across the geographic area served by the Austin State Hospital.
(e) Not later than September 1, 2016, the commission shall compile a report containing results from the study and submit the report to:
(1) each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over health and human services;
(2) the Sunset Advisory Commission; and
(3) the Legislative Budget Board.
(f) This section expires September 1, 2017.