| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the provision of mental health services to persons |
|
|
younger than 18 years of age. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 572.001(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A person 16 years of age or older may request admission |
|
|
to an inpatient mental health facility or for outpatient mental |
|
|
health services by filing a request with the administrator of the |
|
|
facility where admission or outpatient treatment is requested. If |
|
|
the person is younger than 18 years of age, the [The] parent, |
|
|
managing conservator, [or] guardian, or adult who has had actual |
|
|
care, custody, and control of the person for the six months |
|
|
preceding the request [of a person younger than 18 years of age] may |
|
|
request the admission of the person to an inpatient mental health |
|
|
facility or for outpatient mental health services by filing a |
|
|
request with the administrator of the facility where admission or |
|
|
outpatient treatment is requested. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 573.001(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A peace officer, without a warrant, may take a person, |
|
|
regardless of age, into custody if the officer: |
|
|
(1) has reason to believe and does believe that: |
|
|
(A) the person is a person with mental illness; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(B) because of that mental illness there is a |
|
|
substantial risk of serious harm to the person or to others unless |
|
|
the person is immediately restrained; and |
|
|
(2) believes that there is not sufficient time to |
|
|
obtain a warrant before taking the person into custody. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |