By: Jetton, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 1898
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2023;
  April 19, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 21, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 1;
  May 21, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1898 By:  Hancock
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         KolkhorstX
         PerryX
         BlancoX
         HallX
         HancockX
         HughesX
         LaMantiaX
         MilesX
         SparksX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a grant program to fund the provision by children's
  hospitals of mental and behavioral health services to children in
  this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.09936 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.09936.  GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
  HEALTH SERVICES BY CERTAIN CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.  (a)  In this
  section:
               (1)  "Children's hospital" means a hospital designated
  by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a children's
  hospital that is exempted by that federal agency from payment under
  the inpatient prospective payment system under Medicare.
               (2)  "Grant program" means the grant program
  established under Subsection (b).
         (b)  If and to the extent money is specifically appropriated
  to the commission for that purpose, the commission shall establish
  a grant program under which the commission provides grants to
  children's hospitals that the hospitals may, except as provided by
  Subsection (e), use to directly provide mental and behavioral
  health services to children in this state.
         (c)  A children's hospital may apply for a grant under the
  grant program in the form and manner prescribed by the commission.
         (d)  A grant recipient may not use a grant awarded under the
  grant program to:
               (1)  reimburse an expense or pay a cost that a health
  benefit plan or other source, including Medicaid, is obligated to
  reimburse or pay by law or contract; or
               (2)  provide mental health services, including
  treatments or procedures, to a child that affirm the child's
  perception of the child's sex if that perception is inconsistent
  with the child's biological sex.
         (e)  The commission shall monitor and evaluate the use of
  money awarded under the grant program to ensure compliance with
  this section.
         (f)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the commission shall submit a biennial report to the legislature on
  the performance of the grant program during the preceding two state
  fiscal years. The report must include the name of each grant
  recipient awarded a grant under the program and the amount of the
  recipient's award during the fiscal years covered by the report.
         (g)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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