HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Public Health
             Interim Charge 3 

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Monday, October 5, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Senfronia Thompson 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty as to scheduling safe interim hearings at this time, the House Committee on Public Health is requesting written submissions from interested parties and the public in regards to the topics listed below.

Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to members of the committee and posted on the House website at https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/requests-for-information/.

Submission Guidelines

· Submissions must be in Microsoft Word.

· Submissions are limited to five (5) pages in length. The page limit is not inclusive of any photos, graphs, spreadsheets, charts, etc. the submitter chooses to include.

· Please submit a separate document for each topic to which you are responding.

· Submissions must include the submitter name, organization or entity (if applicable and an authorized representative), mailing address, email, and telephone number).

· Please include "Interim Charge 3" in the email subject line.

· Submissions must be sent via email to PublicHealth@house.texas.gov

· All submissions are due by Friday, October 16, 2020 at 5PM (CST).

The Committee seeks responses to the Interim Charge listed below:

Interim Charge 3: Review behavioral health capacity in the state, with a focus on suicide prevention efforts and the provision of behavioral health care services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Review suicide prevention programs and initiatives across state agencies, evaluate their effectiveness, and identify opportunities for greater coordination. Identify gaps in the continuum of care for individuals with disabilities and challenges for those providing care to them. Additionally, identify any existing administrative and licensing

barriers that negatively affect overall behavioral health capacity in the state.

In the event it becomes feasible to safely conduct a public meeting, the Committee reserves the right to hold an in-person hearing on these charges.