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