By: Lambert H.B. No. 1598

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an initiative to increase the capacity of local mental health authorities to provide access to mental health services in certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0221 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.0221. INITIATIVE TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CAPACITY IN RURAL AREAS. (a) In this section, "local mental health authority group" means a group of local mental health authorities established under Subsection (b)(2).

(b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the commission shall:

(1) identify each local mental health authority that is located in a county with a population of 250,000 or less or that the commission determines provides services predominantly in a county with a population of 250,000 or less;

(2) in a manner that the commission determines will best achieve the reductions described by Subsection (d), assign the authorities identified under Subdivision (1) of this subsection to regional groups of at least two authorities; and

(3) notify each authority identified under Subdivision (1):

(A) that the commission has identified the authority under that subdivision; and

(B) which local mental health authority group the commission assigned the authority to under Subdivision (2).

(c) The commission shall develop a mental health services development plan for each local mental health authority group that will increase the capacity of the authorities in the group to provide access to needed services.

(d) In developing a plan under Subsection (c), the commission shall focus on reducing:

(1) the cost to local governments of providing services to persons experiencing a mental health crisis;

(2) the transportation of persons served by an authority in the local mental health authority group to mental health facilities;

(3) the incarceration of persons with mental illness in county jails that are located in an area served by an authority in the local mental health authority group; and

(4) the number of hospital emergency room visits by persons with mental illness at hospitals located in an area served by an authority in the local mental health authority group.

(e) In developing a plan under Subsection (c):

(1) the commission shall assess the capacity of the authorities in the local mental health authority group to provide access to needed services; and

(2) the commission and the local mental health authority group shall evaluate:

(A) whether and to what degree increasing the capacity of the authorities in the local mental health authority group to provide access to needed services would offset the cost to state or local governmental entities of:

(i) the transportation of persons for mental health services to facilities that are not local providers;

(ii) admissions to and inpatient hospitalizations at state hospitals or other treatment facilities;

(iii) the provision of services by hospital emergency rooms to persons with mental illness who are served by or reside in an area served by an authority in the local mental health authority group; and

(iv) the incarceration in county jails of persons with mental illness who are served by or reside in an area served by an authority in the local mental health authority group;

(B) whether available state funds or grant funding sources could be used to fund the plan; and

(C) what measures would be necessary to ensure that the plan aligns with the statewide behavioral health strategic plan and the comprehensive inpatient mental health plan.

(f) In each mental health services development plan produced under this section, the commission, in collaboration with the local mental health authority group, shall determine the most cost-effective method of increasing the capacity of the authorities in the local mental health authority group to provide access to needed services.

(g) The commission shall compile and evaluate each mental health services development plan produced under this section and determine:

(1) the cost-effectiveness of each plan; and

(2) how each plan would improve the delivery of mental health treatment and care to residents in the service areas of the authorities in the local mental health authority group.

(h) Not later than December 1, 2020, the commission shall produce and publish on its Internet website a report containing:

(1) the commission's evaluation of each plan under Subsection (g);

(2) each mental health services development plan evaluated by the commission under Subsection (g); and

(3) a comprehensive statewide analysis of mental health services in counties with a population of 250,000 or less, including recommendations to the legislature for implementing the plans developed under this section.

(i) The commission and the authorities in each local mental health authority group may implement a mental health services development plan evaluated by the commission under this section if the commission and the local mental health authority group to which the plan applies identify a method of funding that implementation.

(j) This section expires September 1, 2021.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.