BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 850
88R8514 MPF-D	By: Blanco
	Health & Human Services
	3/13/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas is home to over 900,000 rural students, which grows by 30,000 annually. Although rates of mental health disorders are consistent between urban and rural parts of Texas, data indicates that rural children are more likely to abuse substances and attempt suicide and are less likely to have access to behavioral health care in a mental health emergency. Texas education service centers play a critical role in providing school districts with an array of services customized to the regional context of that community, including support for licensed mental health professionals' needs related to research-based best practices, developing partnerships and programming with schools, and trauma-informed care, helping foster a safe and supportive environment where children with mental health needs can receive the support they need to succeed academically and emotionally. 

Texas Children's Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) was established to address urgent mental health challenges throughout the state by leveraging the expertise and capacity of mental health-related institutions. Under current law, membership on the TCMHCC includes 13 universities, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, three mental health-related nonprofits, and any other entity deemed necessary by the consortium's executive committee. However, a permanent seat for an education service center does not exist. 

As proposed, S.B. 850 will add a representative from each education service center to the consortium's composition to serve as the direct link between local mental health needs and access to appropriate mental health care. 

As proposed, S.B. 850 amends current law relating to the composition of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 113.0052, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

Sec. 113.0052. COMPOSITION. Provides that the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium is composed of certain entities, including each regional education service center established under Chapter 8 (Regional Education Service Centers), Education Code. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.