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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Mental Health Crisis and Suicide |
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Prevention Task Force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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(3) "N-1-1 dial code" means a three-digit telephone |
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number that connects users to a public safety answering point |
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through dialing the three-digit telephone number. |
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(4) "Statewide mental health crisis line" means a |
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telephonic or other electronic system operated 24 hours a day to |
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connect a mental or behavioral health professional with persons |
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experiencing a mental health crisis. |
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(5) "Task force" means the Mental Health Crisis and |
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Suicide Prevention Task Force. |
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SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The Mental Health |
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Crisis and Suicide Prevention Task Force is established by the |
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executive commissioner to study the efficacy and feasibility of |
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creating a statewide mental health crisis line for treating mental |
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health crises and preventing suicide. |
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SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is |
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composed of: |
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(1) the governor's designee; |
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(2) two members of the senate, appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(3) two members of the house of representatives, |
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appointed by the speaker of the house; and |
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(4) 10 members appointed by the executive commissioner |
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as follows: |
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(A) two representatives from the Commission on |
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State Emergency Communications; |
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(B) two representatives from the commission's |
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mental health crisis services office; |
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(C) two mental or behavioral health clinicians |
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licensed to practice in this state; |
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(D) two physicians licensed to practice in this |
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state, one of whom specializes in psychiatry; |
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(E) one social worker; and |
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(F) one community advocate in a relevant field. |
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SECTION 4. CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. The executive |
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commissioner shall appoint from among the task force members a |
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chair and vice chair. |
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SECTION 5. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The task force shall meet |
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at the call of the chair. The chair shall set the agenda for each |
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meeting. |
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(b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the |
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action of the task force. |
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SECTION 6. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), a member of the task force may not |
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receive compensation or reimbursement for service on the task |
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force. |
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(b) A task force member who is a legislator engaged in the |
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business of the task force is entitled to compensation and expenses |
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as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code. |
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SECTION 7. STUDY; REPORT. (a) In cooperation with the |
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commission, the task force shall study: |
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(1) the efficacy and feasibility of designating an |
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N-1-1 dial code or another dialing code for use as a statewide |
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mental health crisis line; and |
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(2) the advantages and disadvantages of using a |
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particular statewide N-1-1 dial code or another dialing code for a |
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statewide mental health crisis line. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the legislature and the commission a written |
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report containing the results of the study and a recommendation as |
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to whether to establish a particular N-1-1 dial code or other |
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covered dialing code for use as a statewide mental health crisis |
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line. |
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(c) If the report submitted under Subsection (b) includes a |
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recommendation to establish a particular N-1-1 dial code or other |
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covered dialing code for use as a statewide mental health crisis |
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line, the report must also include: |
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(1) an outline of the logistics of designating that |
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dial code; |
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(2) an estimate of the costs associated with |
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designating that dial code, including costs incurred by: |
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(A) service providers, including: |
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(i) translation changes in the network; and |
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(ii) cell site analysis and reprogramming |
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by wireless carriers; and |
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(B) the state and political subdivisions; |
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(3) recommendations for designating the dial code; |
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(4) a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended |
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dial code with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as the |
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lifeline exists on the date the report is submitted; and |
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(5) other recommendations as appropriate for |
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improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally, |
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which may include: |
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(A) increased public education and awareness; |
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and |
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(B) improved infrastructure and operations. |
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SECTION 8. FUNDING. The task force, through the |
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commission, may accept gifts and grants from any source to fund the |
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duties of the commission and the task force under this Act. |
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SECTION 9. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the task force. |
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SECTION 10. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, |
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2021. |
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SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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September 1, 2019. |