88R2754 AMF-D
 
  By: Garcia H.B. No. 2481
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a counseling and crisis management program for relative
  or other designated caregivers and children in the managing
  conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
  Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
  amended by adding Section 264.7553 to read as follows:
         Sec. 264.7553.  COUNSELING AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR
  RELATIVE OR OTHER DESIGNATED CAREGIVER PLACEMENTS. (a) The
  department shall develop a counseling and crisis management program
  to provide mental and behavioral telehealth services and mobile
  mental and behavioral health intervention services to relative or
  other designated caregivers and children in the managing
  conservatorship of the department who are placed with relative or
  other designated caregivers.
         (b)  Mental and behavioral telehealth services provided
  under this section must be:
               (1)  accessible electronically through the use of a
  computer or telephone application; and
               (2)  available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
         (c)  Mobile mental and behavioral health intervention
  services provided under this section must be:
               (1)  deployed to the location of the child or the
  relative or other designated caregiver requiring intervention
  services; and
               (2)  available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
         (d)  Services described by this section may only be provided
  by:
               (1)  a licensed psychologist;
               (2)  a licensed marriage and family therapist, as
  defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code;
               (3)  a licensed professional counselor, as defined by
  Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
               (4)  a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
  Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or
               (5)  any similarly qualified mental health
  professional as established by department rule.
         (e)  The department shall, to the extent possible, seek
  reimbursement from the medical assistance program under Chapter 32,
  Human Resources Code, or a health plan that provides health
  coverage for services described by this section to relative or
  other designated caregivers and children.
         (f)  The department may contract with an outside vendor to
  provide services described by this section.
         (g)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
  implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the commissioner of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
  Section 264.7553, Family Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  The Department of Family and Protective Services shall
  begin providing the services required under Section 264.7553,
  Family Code, as added by this Act, as follows:
               (1)  mental and behavioral telehealth services, not
  later than January 1, 2024; and
               (2)  mobile mental and behavioral health intervention
  services, not later than January 1, 2025.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.