86R7996 GCB-D

By: Thompson of Harris H.J.R. No. 5

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Public Finance Authority to fund research, treatment, and access to services in this state for behavioral health, mental health, and substance use and addiction issues.

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

SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 68 to read as follows:

Sec. 68. (a) The legislature by general law may authorize the Texas Public Finance Authority or its successor to provide for, issue, and sell general obligation bonds of the State of Texas and to enter into related credit agreements for the purpose of funding programs:

(1) to research behavioral health issues generally, including causes of behavioral health issues, public health trends and strategies regarding behavioral health issues, and new behavioral health treatments, interventions, and other solutions;

(2) to research substance use and addiction issues, including genetic determinates of addiction, identification of and mitigation of substance use and addiction risk factors, addiction recovery, pain management strategies, and prescription practices;

(3) to research behavioral health and mental health issues affecting children and adolescents, including unidentified and untreated mental illness, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and suicide prevention; and

(4) to address the shortage of mental health professionals in this state, including programs to increase access to mental health professionals in rural areas of the state, programs to increase the use of telemedicine in the treatment of behavioral health or mental health issues, and programs to provide loan repayment assistance and other funding for mental health professionals, including physicians and advanced practice nurses trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness in children and adolescents.

(b) Proceeds from the sale of the bonds shall be deposited in separate funds or accounts, as provided by general law, in the state treasury to be used by the Health and Human Services Commission or its successor to provide grants to public or private institutions of higher education in this state or other state agencies or government entities for the purposes provided by Subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The bond proceeds may be used to pay the costs of issuing the bonds and any administrative expense related to the bonds.

(d) While any of the bonds or interest on the bonds authorized by this section is outstanding and unpaid, from the first money coming into the state treasury in each fiscal year not otherwise appropriated by this constitution, an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on bonds that mature or become due during the fiscal year and to make payments that become due under a related credit agreement during the fiscal year is appropriated, less the amount in the sinking fund at the close of the previous fiscal year.

(e) Bonds issued under this section, after approval by the attorney general, registration by the comptroller of public accounts, and delivery to the purchasers, are incontestable and are general obligations of the State of Texas under this constitution.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2019. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Public Finance Authority to fund research, treatment, and access to services in this state for behavioral health, mental health, and substance use and addiction issues."