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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to infrastructure funding for state hospital facilities |
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and other state facilities, including the creation of the state |
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hospital fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 552, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. STATE HOSPITAL FUND |
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Sec. 552.201. PURPOSE; INTENT. (a) The legislature |
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recognizes the importance of providing funding for this state's |
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infrastructure needs at state hospitals and other state facilities. |
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The purpose of this Act is to ensure: |
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(1) the safety and security of patients, system |
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employees, and visitors; |
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(2) that care for patients is provided in a setting |
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that represents the standard of mental health care; |
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(3) collaboration with the state's health-related |
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institutions of higher education to educate and expand our mental |
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health workforce; and |
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(4) the reduction of recidivism and waiting lists in |
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the state hospital system. |
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(b) To accomplish this purpose, this Act creates the state |
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hospital fund. |
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Sec. 552.202. FUND. (a) The state hospital fund is an |
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account in the state treasury. |
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(b) The fund consists of: |
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(1) any amount deposited, paid, or appropriated by the |
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legislature; |
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(2) all amounts paid lawfully into the fund from any |
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other source; and |
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(3) all interest or other earnings on money credited |
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to the fund. |
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(c) Money deposited to the credit of the fund may be used |
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only as provided by this subchapter. |
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Sec. 552.203. USE OF FUND. Money appropriated from the |
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state hospital fund shall be used for the purposes described by |
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Section 552.201. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |