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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the composition of the governing bodies and the |
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consultation policies of local mental health authorities with |
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respect to sheriffs, their representatives, and local law |
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enforcement agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 533, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 533.0351 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 533.0351. REQUIRED COMPOSITION OF LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH |
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AUTHORITY GOVERNING BODY. (a) If a local mental health authority |
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has a governing body, the governing body must include as an ex |
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officio nonvoting member a sheriff or a representative of a sheriff |
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of a county in the local authority's service area. Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), the sheriff or representative described |
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by this subsection serves as an ex officio member of the governing |
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body for the duration of the sheriff's term in office. |
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(b) If there are two or more counties in a local mental |
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health authority's service area, the position of ex officio |
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nonvoting member described by Subsection (a) must rotate among the |
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sheriffs of those counties in the local authority's service area |
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every two years. |
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(c) If a local mental health authority does not have a |
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governing body, the local authority shall consult with a sheriff or |
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a representative of a sheriff of a county in the local authority's |
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service area regarding the use of the funds received under Section |
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533.035(b). |
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SECTION 2. Section 533.0352(d), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) In developing the local service area plan, the local |
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mental health authority shall: |
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(1) solicit information regarding community needs |
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from: |
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(A) representatives of the local community; |
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(B) consumers of community-based mental health |
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services and members of the families of those consumers; [and] |
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(C) local law enforcement agencies; and |
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(D) other interested persons; and |
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(2) consider: |
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(A) criteria for assuring accountability for, |
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cost-effectiveness of, and relative value of service delivery |
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options; |
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(B) goals to minimize the need for state hospital |
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and community hospital care; |
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(C) goals to divert consumers of services from |
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the criminal justice system; |
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(D) goals to ensure that a child with mental |
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illness remains with the child's parent or guardian as appropriate |
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to the child's care; and |
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(E) opportunities for innovation in services and |
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service delivery. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |