88R15762 MPF-D
 
  By: Gervin-Hawkins, Gates, et al. H.B. No. 2149
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2149:
 
  By:  Klick C.S.H.B. No. 2149
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notice of rights provided to a patient receiving
  inpatient mental health, chemical dependency, or comprehensive
  medical rehabilitation services at certain facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 321.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivision (1-b) to read as follows:
               (1-b) "Facility" means an inpatient facility at which
  voluntary or involuntary mental health, chemical dependency, or
  comprehensive medical rehabilitation services are provided,
  including a:
                     (A)  child-care facility;
                     (B)  hospital;
                     (C)  mental health facility; and
                     (D)  treatment facility.
         SECTION 2.  Section 321.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (f), (g), and (h) and adding
  Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:
         (f)  Before a facility may admit a patient for inpatient
  mental health, chemical dependency, or comprehensive medical
  rehabilitation services, or before a child-care facility may accept
  a minor for treatment, the facility shall provide to the person and,
  if appropriate, to the person's parent, managing conservator, or
  guardian, a written copy of the applicable "bill of rights" adopted
  under this section.  The facility shall provide the written copies
  in the person's primary language[, if possible].  In addition, the
  facility shall ensure that[, within 24 hours after the person is
  admitted to the facility,] the rights specified in the written copy
  are explained to the person and, if appropriate, to the person's
  parent, managing conservator, or guardian:
               (1)  orally, in simple, nontechnical terms in the
  person's primary language[, if possible]; or
               (2)  through a means reasonably calculated to
  communicate with a person who has an impairment of vision or
  hearing, if applicable.
         (f-1)  The oral and written communication required by
  Subsection (f) must be provided on two separate days as follows: 
               (1)  if English is the patient's primary language:
                     (A)  at the time the patient is admitted to the
  facility; and
                     (B)  not later than the third day after the date
  the patient is admitted to the facility; or
               (2)  if English is not the patient's primary language:
                     (A)  not later than 24 hours after the patient is
  admitted to the facility; and
                     (B)  not later than the third day after the date
  the patient is admitted to the facility.
         (g)  The facility shall ensure that:
               (1)  each patient admitted for inpatient mental health,
  chemical dependency, or comprehensive rehabilitation services and
  each minor admitted for treatment in a child-care facility and, if
  appropriate, the person's parent, managing conservator, or
  guardian signs each [a] copy of the document stating that the person
  has read the document and understands the rights specified in the
  document; and
               (2)  the signed copies are [copy is] made a part of the
  person's clinical record.
         (h)  A facility shall prominently and conspicuously post a
  copy of the "bill of rights" for display in a public area of the
  facility that is readily available to patients, residents,
  employees, and visitors.  The "bill of rights" must:
               (1)  include the name and contact information of the
  person with whom a complaint regarding a violation of the rights
  provided by this chapter, Subtitle C of Title 7, Chapters 241, 462,
  464, and 466, and any other provisions the executive commissioner
  considers necessary to protect the health, safety, and rights of a
  patient receiving voluntary or involuntary mental health, chemical
  dependency, or comprehensive medical rehabilitation services in an
  inpatient facility may be filed; and
               (2)  be in English and in a second language appropriate
  to the demographic composition of the community served by the
  facility.
         SECTION 3.  Section 576.009, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 576.009.  NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS.  A patient receiving
  involuntary inpatient mental health services shall be informed of
  the rights provided by this subtitle:
               (1)  through a poster displayed in the mental health
  facility in the manner provided by Section 321.002(h); and
               (2)  either:
                     (A)  orally, in simple, nontechnical terms, and in
  writing in the manner provided by Section 321.002(f-1) [that, if
  possible, is in the person's primary language]; or
                     (B) [(2)]  through the use of a means reasonably
  calculated to communicate with a hearing impaired or visually
  impaired person, if applicable.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a patient's admittance to a facility for inpatient mental health,
  chemical dependency, or comprehensive medical rehabilitation
  services on or after the effective date of this Act.  A patient's
  admittance to a facility for mental health, chemical dependency, or
  comprehensive medical rehabilitation services before the effective
  date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  patient was admitted, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.