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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a mental health jail diversion pilot |
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program in Bexar County. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 580 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 580. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM; BEXAR |
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COUNTY |
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Sec. 580.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission" |
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means the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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Sec. 580.002. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM. |
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The commission, in cooperation with the local mental health |
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authority that serves Bexar County, shall establish a pilot program |
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in Bexar County for the purpose of reducing recidivism and the |
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frequency of arrests and incarceration among persons with mental |
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illness in that county. |
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Sec. 580.003. CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE MODEL. |
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The commission shall design and test through the pilot program a |
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criminal justice mental health service model oriented toward |
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facilitating treatment for persons with mental illness and |
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substance use disorders to reduce recidivism and frequency of |
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arrests and incarceration of persons with mental illness in Bexar |
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County. The pilot program must include evidence-based practices, |
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including: |
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(1) psychiatric services; |
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(2) substance use disorder treatments; |
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(3) treatment for co-occurring mental health and |
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substance use disorders; |
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(4) integrated primary care, mental health, and |
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chemical dependency services; |
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(5) motivational interviews to decrease recidivism; |
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(6) methods to maintain sobriety; |
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(7) medical detoxification services; |
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(8) intensive case management to address social |
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determinants of health; |
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(9) local mental health authority hospital liaison |
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transitional services, including case management; |
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(10) medication-assisted treatment; and |
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(11) treatment of medical issues, including through |
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inpatient hospitalization if necessary. |
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Sec. 580.004. PROGRAM EVALUATION. (a) The commission |
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shall evaluate the pilot program's success in providing the |
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evidence-based practices described by Section 580.003 to an |
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individual receiving treatment for incarceration diversion for a |
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period of 60 to 90 days. |
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(b) The commission shall establish clear criteria for |
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identifying a target population to be served by the pilot program. |
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The criteria must prioritize serving a target population composed |
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of members with the highest risk of recidivism and either a severe |
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mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring mental |
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illness and substance use disorder. |
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Sec. 580.005. REPORT. (a) Not later than August 1, 2022, |
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the executive commissioner shall: |
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(1) evaluate and produce a report concerning the |
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effect that providing inpatient evaluation for periods of 60 to 90 |
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days has in reducing recidivism and the frequency of arrests and |
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incarceration among persons with mental illness in Bexar County; |
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and |
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(2) submit the report described by Subdivision (1) to |
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the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing |
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committees of the senate and house of representatives having |
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primary jurisdiction over health and human services issues and over |
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criminal justice issues. |
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(b) The report must include a detailed analysis of the |
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features of the criminal justice mental health service model |
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developed and tested under the pilot program, the effect that |
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providing inpatient evaluation for periods of 60 to 90 days has in |
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reducing recidivism and the frequency of arrests and incarceration |
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among persons with mental illness in Bexar County, and the |
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executive commissioner's recommendation on whether to expand use of |
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the model statewide. |
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Sec. 580.006. CONCLUSION; EXPIRATION. The pilot program |
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established under this chapter concludes and this chapter expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |