BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 397

By: Kolkhorst

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties observe that county sheriffs regularly interact with individuals needing mental health services but are often unaware of or unable to access mental health services offered by the appropriate local mental health authority. S.B. 397 promotes increased cooperation between county law enforcement and local mental health authorities by facilitating consultations regarding the use of certain funds for community mental health and intellectual disability services and chemical dependency services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 397 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a local mental health authority, at least once per year, to consult with the sheriff or a representative of the sheriff of each county in the local authority's service area regarding the use of federal and Department of State Health Services funds disbursed to the authority to be spent in the local service area for community mental health and intellectual disability services and for chemical dependency services for persons who are dually diagnosed as having both chemical dependency and mental illness or an intellectual disability.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.