87R7238 EAS-D
 
  By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1346
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the office of forensic services within
  the Department of State Health Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 535 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 535. OFFICE OF FORENSIC SERVICES
         Sec. 535.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Forensic patient" and "forensic services" have
  the meanings assigned by Section 532.013.
               (2)  "Office" means the office of forensic services
  established within the department under this chapter.
         Sec. 535.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.  (a)  The office is
  established as an office within the department.
         (b)  The office is created to ensure a strategic statewide
  approach to the provision of forensic services. The office shall
  have input into policy, service delivery, funding, and commission
  or department rulemaking regarding the provision of forensic
  services to ensure a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic
  systems-level approach to forensic services.
         (c)  The forensic director appointed under Section 532.013
  shall oversee the office.
         Sec. 535.003.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)  The office shall:
               (1)  coordinate and streamline internal commission
  processes and forensic services by:
                     (A)  monitoring and providing oversight to the
  processes;
                     (B)  providing clinical leadership; and
                     (C)  collecting data related to forensic services
  to improve the provision of those services;
               (2)  develop a statewide strategic forensic plan as an
  addendum to the statewide behavioral health strategic plan to
  address the needs of forensic patients;
               (3)  develop best practices for inpatient policies and
  procedures relating to the provision of forensic services;
               (4)  review and consult on all commission contracts
  related to the provision of forensic services, diversion efforts,
  and crisis services;
               (5)  review and consult on all commission contracts for
  outpatient and jail-based competency restoration programs;
               (6)  examine local initiatives related to the provision
  of forensic services;
               (7)  evaluate the success of local initiatives
  described by Subdivision (6) and, based on that evaluation, develop
  and implement a plan to expand successful local initiatives to
  other areas in this state, including scaling those initiatives for
  use in state facilities licensed under Subtitle B and by other
  forensic services providers;
               (8)  develop special initiatives at the local, state,
  and federal level;
               (9)  provide support to the department's Joint
  Committee on Access and Forensic Services in the development of
  policy and legislative proposals for the improvement of forensic
  services in this state;
               (10)  provide training and technical assistance to:
                     (A)  local mental health authorities;
                     (B)  local behavioral health authorities
  designated under Section 533.0356;
                     (C)  staff members of courts with jurisdiction
  over forensic patients;
                     (D)  county jails; and
                     (E)  law enforcement officers;
               (11)  direct and coordinate data analysis to:
                     (A)  improve the efficiency of forensic service
  commission programs; and
                     (B)  evaluate forensic services programs in this
  state;
               (12)  develop and maintain a comprehensive statewide
  registry of forensic hospital bed availability and competency
  restoration services;
               (13)  develop a coordinated statewide system of
  forensic service information and technical assistance;
               (14)  identify strategies to maximize competency
  restoration programs across this state; and
               (15)  develop and implement strategies to address the
  increasing demands on the forensic system.
         (b)  As part of the office's duties, the office must collect
  and analyze data regarding:
               (1)  patient outcomes from behavioral health services
  and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental
  disabilities, including data from:
                     (A)  the grant program established under Section
  531.0993, Government Code;
                     (B)  outpatient competency restoration service
  providers;
                     (C)  jail-based competency restoration providers;
  and
                     (D)  the Harris County Mental Health Jail
  Diversion Program;
               (2)  the length of time it takes an individual to
  receive inpatient competency restoration services;
               (3)  the length of time it takes an individual to
  receive forensic services; and
               (4)  the means by which forensic patients and
  justice-involved individuals are receiving forensic services.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2021, the
  commissioner of state health services shall establish the office of
  forensic services within the Department of State Health Services as
  required by Chapter 535, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.