By: Allison H.B. No. 3616
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the payment of costs for certain mental health hearings
  or proceedings and a county's entitlement to reimbursement for
  those costs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 571.018(d) and (i), Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (d)  A county is entitled to reimbursement for costs actually
  paid by the county from[:
               [(1) the patient; or
               [(2)] a person or estate liable for the patient's
  support in a department mental health facility.
         (i)  The county may not require a person [other than the
  patient] to pay any costs associated with a hearing or proceeding
  under this subtitle, including a filing fee or other court costs
  imposed under Chapter 118, Local Government Code, Chapter 51,
  Government Code, or other law, unless the county first determines
  that[:
               [(1) the costs relate to services provided or to be
  provided in a private mental hospital; or
               [(2)] the person charged with the costs is a person or
  estate liable for the patient's support in a department mental
  health facility.
         SECTION 2.  Section 571.018(h), Health and Safety Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a cost incurred on or after the effective date of this Act. A cost
  incurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  laws in effect at that time, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.