88R10398 MPF-D
 
  By: Johnson of Dallas H.B. No. 4561
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Alternative Mental Health
  Therapy Research Consortium and to certain plans, programs, and
  studies related to the provision of those alternative mental health
  therapies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I-1. ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIES
         Sec. 531.331.  ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY RESEARCH
  CONSORTIUM. (a)  In this section, "consortium" means the Texas
  Alternative Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium.
         (b)  The commission shall establish the Texas Alternative
  Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium.
         (c)  The consortium is composed of:
               (1)  academic scholars with knowledge of the efficacy
  of providing mental health therapy using psychedelics;
               (2)  representatives of health-related institutions
  providing alternative mental health therapies using ketamine;
               (3)  mental health professionals who specialize in
  providing mental health care to veterans; and
               (4)  representatives of an advocacy group for
  alternative mental health therapies using psychedelics.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall appoint the members of
  the consortium.
         (e)  The consortium shall research the efficacy of providing
  mental health care through the provision of psychedelic drugs and
  ketamine, focusing on the provision of mental health care to
  veterans in this state through the use of those alternative
  therapies.
         (f)  The consortium shall solicit, and the commission may
  accept on behalf of the consortium, a gift, grant, or donation made
  from any public or private source to accomplish the purposes of this
  section.
         Sec. 531.332.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR KETAMINE CLINICS. (a)  The
  commission shall establish and administer a grant program to
  establish ketamine clinics in this state.
         (b)  In addition to money appropriated by the legislature,
  the commission may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any
  source to administer and finance the grant program established
  under this section.
         Sec. 531.333.  PLAN FOR KETAMINE THERAPY VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR
  VETERANS. The commission shall develop a plan to establish a
  voucher program to provide ketamine therapy to veterans.
         Sec. 531.334.  RULES. The executive commissioner shall
  adopt rules to implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The Health and Human Services Commission
  shall conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of using alternative
  therapies, including the use of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, to treat
  veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder,
  depression, and mild traumatic brain injury.
         (b)  As part of the study conducted under Subsection (a) of
  this section, the commission must review scientific literature
  related to alternative therapies.
         (c)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall prepare and submit a report to the
  legislature containing the findings of the study and any
  recommendations for legislative action.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2025.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.