BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2072

By: Jetton

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Health and Human Services Commission operates a grant program to reduce recidivism, arrest, and incarceration of persons with mental illness and the total waiting time for forensic commitment of such persons to a state hospital. Under current law, eligibility to obtain a grant under this program is limited to community collaboratives. State law should be revised to allow 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to also apply for and receive these grant funds. C.S.H.B. 2072 seeks to make the necessary revisions to do so.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2072 amends the Government Code to make 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations eligible to participate in the Health and Human Services Commission's grant program to reduce recidivism, arrest, and incarceration of persons with mental illness and the total waiting time for forensic commitment of such persons to a state hospital. The bill also makes that change with respect to the version of the grant program operated in the most populous county in Texas.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2072 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the introduced included provisions pertaining only to the general HHSC grant program to reduce recidivism, arrest, and incarceration of persons with mental illness and the total waiting time for forensic commitment of such persons to a state hospital, the substitute includes both those provisions and provisions that pertain to the version of the grant program operated in the most populous county in Texas.