86R5818 EAS-F
 
  By: Thierry H.B. No. 1578
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing the Mental Health Crisis and Suicide
  Prevention Task Force.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (3)  "N-1-1 dial code" means a three-digit telephone
  number that connects users to a public safety answering point
  through dialing the three-digit telephone number.
               (4)  "Statewide mental health crisis line" means a
  telephonic or other electronic system operated 24 hours a day to
  connect a mental or behavioral health professional with persons
  experiencing a mental health crisis.
               (5)  "Task force" means the Mental Health Crisis and
  Suicide Prevention Task Force.
         SECTION 2.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The Mental Health
  Crisis and Suicide Prevention Task Force is established by the
  executive commissioner to study the efficacy and feasibility of
  creating a statewide mental health crisis line for treating mental
  health crises and preventing suicide.
         SECTION 3.  COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is
  composed of:
               (1)  the governor's designee;
               (2)  two members of the senate, appointed by the
  lieutenant governor;
               (3)  two members of the house of representatives,
  appointed by the speaker of the house; and
               (4)  10 members appointed by the executive commissioner
  as follows:
                     (A)  two representatives from the Commission on
  State Emergency Communications;
                     (B)  two representatives from the commission's
  mental health crisis services office;
                     (C)  two mental or behavioral health clinicians
  licensed to practice in this state;
                     (D)  two physicians licensed to practice in this
  state, one of whom specializes in psychiatry;
                     (E)  one social worker; and
                     (F)  one community advocate in a relevant field.
         SECTION 4.  CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. The executive
  commissioner shall appoint from among the task force members a
  chair and vice chair.
         SECTION 5.  MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The task force shall meet
  at the call of the chair. The chair shall set the agenda for each
  meeting.
         (b)  The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the
  action of the task force.
         SECTION 6.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a)  Except as
  provided by Subsection (b), a member of the task force may not
  receive compensation or reimbursement for service on the task
  force.
         (b)  A task force member who is a legislator engaged in the
  business of the task force is entitled to compensation and expenses
  as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code.
         SECTION 7.  STUDY; REPORT. (a) In cooperation with the
  commission, the task force shall study:
               (1)  the efficacy and feasibility of designating an
  N-1-1 dial code or another dialing code for use as a statewide
  mental health crisis line; and
               (2)  the advantages and disadvantages of using a
  particular statewide N-1-1 dial code or another dialing code for a
  statewide mental health crisis line.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the task force shall
  prepare and submit to the legislature and the commission a written
  report containing the results of the study and a recommendation as
  to whether to establish a particular N-1-1 dial code or other
  covered dialing code for use as a statewide mental health crisis
  line.
         (c)  If the report submitted under Subsection (b) includes a
  recommendation to establish a particular N-1-1 dial code or other
  covered dialing code for use as a statewide mental health crisis
  line, the report must also include:
               (1)  an outline of the logistics of designating that
  dial code;
               (2)  an estimate of the costs associated with
  designating that dial code, including costs incurred by:
                     (A)  service providers, including:
                           (i)  translation changes in the network; and
                           (ii)  cell site analysis and reprogramming
  by wireless carriers; and
                     (B)  the state and political subdivisions;
               (3)  recommendations for designating the dial code;
               (4)  a cost-benefit analysis comparing the recommended
  dial code with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as the
  lifeline exists on the date the report is submitted; and
               (5)  other recommendations as appropriate for
  improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline generally,
  which may include:
                     (A)  increased public education and awareness;
  and
                     (B)  improved infrastructure and operations.
         SECTION 8.  FUNDING. The task force, through the
  commission, may accept gifts and grants from any source to fund the
  duties of the commission and the task force under this Act.
         SECTION 9.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
  Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
         SECTION 10.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1,
  2021.
         SECTION 11.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
  September 1, 2019.