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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a strategic plan to address postpartum depression. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 32.046 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.046. POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) |
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The commission shall develop and implement a five-year strategic |
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plan to improve access to postpartum depression screening, |
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referral, treatment, and support services. Not later than |
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September 1 of the last fiscal year in each five-year period, the |
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commission shall develop a new strategic plan for the next five |
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fiscal years beginning with the following fiscal year. |
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(b) The strategic plan must provide strategies to: |
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(1) increase awareness among state-administered |
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program providers who may serve women who are at risk of or are |
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experiencing postpartum depression about the prevalence and |
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effects of postpartum depression on outcomes for women and |
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children; |
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(2) establish a referral network of community-based |
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mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum |
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depression; |
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(3) increase women's access to formal and informal |
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peer support services, including access to certified peer |
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specialists who have received additional training related to |
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postpartum depression; |
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(4) raise public awareness of and reduce the stigma |
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related to postpartum depression; and |
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(5) leverage sources of funding to support existing |
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community-based postpartum depression screening, referral, |
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treatment, and support services. |
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(c) The commission shall coordinate with the department, |
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the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental |
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health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health |
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coordinating council in developing the strategic plan. |
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(d) The commission, in consultation with the department, |
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the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental |
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health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health |
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coordinating council, shall annually review and update, as |
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necessary, the strategic plan. |
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(e) For purposes of this section, "postpartum depression" |
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means a disorder in which a woman experiences moderate to severe |
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depression following a pregnancy, regardless of whether the |
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pregnancy resulted in birth, or an act defined by Section |
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245.002(1). |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall develop the initial strategic plan |
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required by Section 32.046, Health and Safety Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |