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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a comprehensive plan for increasing and improving the |
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workforce in this state to serve persons with mental health and |
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substance use issues. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02254 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02254. COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE PLAN FOR MENTAL |
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HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE. (a) The statewide behavioral health |
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coordinating council established under Subchapter M-1, under the |
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direction of the commission, shall develop and the commission shall |
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implement a comprehensive plan to increase and improve the |
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workforce in this state to serve persons with mental health and |
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substance use issues. In developing the plan, the council shall |
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analyze and consider available studies, reports, and |
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recommendations regarding that segment of the workforce in this |
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state or elsewhere. |
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(b) The plan must include: |
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(1) a strategy and timeline for implementing the plan, |
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including short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals; |
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(2) a system for monitoring the implementation of the |
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plan; and |
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(3) a method for evaluating the outcomes of the plan. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2022, the statewide |
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behavioral health coordinating council shall develop and the Health |
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and Human Services Commission shall begin implementing the plan |
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required under Section 531.02254, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. The statewide behavioral health coordinating |
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council and the Health and Human Services Commission are required |
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to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature |
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appropriates money to the commission specifically for that purpose. |
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If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the council and the commission may, but are not required |
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to, implement the provision using other appropriations made to the |
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commission that are available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |