By: Lucio, Menéndez S.B. No. 429
      Miles
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a comprehensive plan for increasing and improving the
  workforce in this state to serve persons with mental health and
  substance use issues.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.02253 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.02253.  COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE PLAN FOR MENTAL
  HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE. (a)  The statewide behavioral health
  coordinating council, under the direction of the commission, shall
  develop and the commission shall implement a comprehensive plan to
  increase and improve the workforce in this state to serve persons
  with mental health and substance use issues. In developing the
  plan, the council shall analyze and consider available studies,
  reports, and recommendations regarding that segment of the
  workforce in this state or elsewhere.
         (b)  The plan must include:
               (1)  a strategy and timeline for implementing the plan,
  including short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals;
               (2)  a system for monitoring the implementation of the
  plan; and
               (3)  a method for evaluating the outcomes of the plan.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than September 1, 2020, the statewide
  behavioral health coordinating council shall develop and the Health
  and Human Services Commission shall begin implementing the plan
  required under Section 531.02253, Government Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  The statewide behavioral health coordinating
  council and the Health and Human Services Commission are required
  to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
  appropriates money to the commission specifically for that purpose.
  If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the council and the commission may, but are not required
  to, implement the provision using other appropriations made to the
  commission that are available for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.