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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Alternative Mental Health |
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Therapy Research Consortium and to certain plans, programs, and |
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studies related to the provision of those alternative mental health |
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therapies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I-1. ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIES |
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Sec. 531.331. ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY RESEARCH |
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CONSORTIUM. (a) In this section, "consortium" means the Texas |
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Alternative Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium. |
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(b) The commission shall establish the Texas Alternative |
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Mental Health Therapy Research Consortium. |
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(c) The consortium is composed of: |
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(1) academic scholars with knowledge of the efficacy |
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of providing mental health therapy using psychedelics; |
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(2) representatives of health-related institutions |
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providing alternative mental health therapies using ketamine; |
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(3) mental health professionals who specialize in |
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providing mental health care to veterans; and |
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(4) representatives of an advocacy group for |
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alternative mental health therapies using psychedelics. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall appoint the members of |
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the consortium. |
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(e) The consortium shall research the efficacy of providing |
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mental health care through the provision of psychedelic drugs and |
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ketamine, focusing on the provision of mental health care to |
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veterans in this state through the use of those alternative |
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therapies. |
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(f) The consortium shall solicit, and the commission may |
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accept on behalf of the consortium, a gift, grant, or donation made |
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from any public or private source to accomplish the purposes of this |
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section. |
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Sec. 531.332. GRANT PROGRAM FOR KETAMINE CLINICS. (a) The |
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commission shall establish and administer a grant program to |
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establish ketamine clinics in this state. |
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(b) In addition to money appropriated by the legislature, |
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the commission may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any |
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source to administer and finance the grant program established |
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under this section. |
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Sec. 531.333. PLAN FOR KETAMINE THERAPY VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR |
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VETERANS. The commission shall develop a plan to establish a |
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voucher program to provide ketamine therapy to veterans. |
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Sec. 531.334. RULES. The executive commissioner shall |
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adopt rules to implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of using alternative |
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therapies, including the use of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, to treat |
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veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, |
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depression, and mild traumatic brain injury. |
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(b) As part of the study conducted under Subsection (a) of |
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this section, the commission must review scientific literature |
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related to alternative therapies. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2024, the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall prepare and submit a report to the |
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legislature containing the findings of the study and any |
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recommendations for legislative action. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |