87R8519 EAS-D
 
  By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2074
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Mental Illness and
  Intellectual or Developmental Disability Advisory Council.
         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. MENTAL ILLNESS AND INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL
  DISABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
         Sec. 535.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "advisory
  council" means the Mental Illness and Intellectual or Developmental
  Disability Advisory Council established under this chapter.
         Sec. 535.002.  ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The
  Mental Illness and Intellectual or Developmental Disability
  Advisory Council is established to advise the commission and the
  legislature on best practices in providing care to individuals with
  co-occurring mental illness and intellectual or developmental
  disabilities. 
         Sec. 535.003.  APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS. The
  advisory council is composed of the following members:
               (1)  one member appointed by the commissioner of
  education; 
               (2)  one member appointed by the executive director of
  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; 
               (3)  one member of the Governor's Committee on People
  with Disabilities appointed by the governor;
               (4)  any other individual considered necessary by the
  governor, appointed by the governor; and 
               (5)  the following members appointed by the executive
  commissioner:
                     (A)  one member representing an advocacy
  organization in this state supporting individuals with
  intellectual or developmental disabilities; 
                     (B)  one member representing an advocacy
  organization in this state supporting individuals experiencing
  mental illness; 
                     (C)  one member representing an advocacy
  organization in this state supporting individuals involved in the
  criminal justice system; 
                     (D)  one member representing a local mental health
  authority; 
                     (E)  one member representing a local intellectual
  and developmental disability authority; 
                     (F)  one parent or family member of a person with
  co-occurring mental illness and intellectual or developmental
  disabilities; 
                     (G)  one member who is a person with an
  intellectual or developmental disability who has personally
  experienced mental illness; 
                     (H)  one member who is a licensed health care
  provider with experience treating individuals with co-occurring
  mental illness and intellectual or developmental disabilities; 
                     (I)  one member who is a licensed social worker,
  as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; 
                     (J)  one member who is a teacher certified in
  special education under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code; 
                     (K)  one member who is a representative of a
  public institution of higher education in this state that is a
  member of one of the University Centers for Excellence in
  Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service; and
                     (L)  one member who has experience researching the
  mental health needs of individuals with an intellectual or
  developmental disability. 
         Sec. 535.004.  TERMS; VACANCY. (a) The advisory council
  shall select a presiding officer from among the advisory council
  members.
         (b)  Members of the advisory council shall serve two-year
  terms. 
         (c)  A vacancy on the advisory council shall be filled in the
  same manner as the original appointment.
         (d)  A member appointed to fill a vacancy holds the office
  for the unexpired portion of the term.
         (e)  Each member may be reappointed to serve on the advisory
  council by the appropriate appointing authority as provided by
  Section 535.003.
         Sec. 535.005.  MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The advisory council
  shall meet at times and locations as determined by the presiding
  officer or by a majority of the members of the advisory council.
         (b)  A majority of the members of the advisory council
  constitute a quorum.
         Sec. 535.006.  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.  The commission shall
  provide administrative support to the advisory council.
         Sec. 535.007.  ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
  each year, the advisory council shall prepare and submit to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, legislature, commission, and other
  relevant state agencies or stakeholders a written report that
  includes recommendations on ensuring that comprehensive and
  integrated mental health and intellectual or developmental
  disability services in this state are available and provided using
  a person-centered approach in institutional, public, and private
  settings. 
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the governor, the commissioner of education, the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission,
  and the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice shall appoint members to the Mental Illness and
  Intellectual or Developmental Disability Advisory Council, as
  required by Chapter 535, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.