By: Thompson of Harris H.J.R. No. 135
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the
  establishment of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of
  Texas and establishing the Mental Health and Brain Institute
  Research Fund for the purposes of scientific research of all forms
  of mental health and human brain disease and disorders.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 68 to read as follows:
         Sec. 68.  MENTAL HEALTH AND BRAIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF
  TEXAS; MENTAL HEALTH AND BRAIN INSTITUTE RESEARCH FUND. (a) The
  legislature shall establish the Mental Health and Brain Research
  Institute of Texas to:
               (1)  award grants to institutions of learning, advanced
  medical research facilities, public or private persons, and
  collaborations in this state to provide funds for:
                     (A)  research into the causes of and prevention,
  treatment, rehabilitation, protocols, and cures for mental health
  and human brain-related diseases, syndromes, disorders,
  dysfunctions, injuries, developmental issues, neurological health
  issues, behavioral health issues, and substance abuse disorders and
  other addictions;
                     (B)  research into any other issue impacting
  mental health and the human brain, including an issue that directly
  or indirectly impacts or is impacted by the brain or brain health,
  such as the gut microbiome, nutrition, the spinal cord, or the
  nervous system;
                     (C)  facilities, equipment, supplies, salaries,
  benefits, and other costs related to brain research;
                     (D)  research, including translational research,
  to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or
  procedures for the cure or substantial mitigation of all types of
  brain diseases and disorders; and
                     (E)  prevention programs and strategies to
  mitigate the incidence of detrimental health impacts on the brain;
               (2)  support institutions of learning and advanced
  medical research facilities and collaborations in this state in all
  stages of the process of:
                     (A)  discovering the causes of all types of mental
  and behavioral health issues, human brain-related diseases,
  syndromes, disorders, dysfunctions, injuries, developmental
  issues, neurological health issues,
                     (B)  developing therapies, protocols, medical
  pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the cure or substantial
  mitigation of brain diseases and disorders from laboratory research
  to clinical trials; and
                     (C)  developing programs to address access to
  advanced treatment of mental health and brain diseases or
  disorders; and
               (3)  establish the appropriate standards and oversight
  bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under this
  section for brain research and facilities development.
         (b)  The members of the governing body and any other
  decision-making body of the Mental Health and Brain Research
  Institute of Texas may serve six-year terms.
         (c)  The Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund is
  established as a fund in the state treasury to be administered by
  the comptroller of public accounts.
         (d)  On January 1, 2024, the comptroller shall transfer $3
  billion from the general revenue fund to the Mental Health and Brain
  Institute Research Fund. The transfer made under this subsection
  is not an appropriation of state tax revenues for the purposes of
  Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution. This subsection
  expires January 1, 2025.
         (e)  The Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund
  consists of:
               (1)  money transferred to the fund under this article;
               (2)  money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
  the fund by the legislature;
               (3)  gifts and grants, including grants from the
  federal government, and other donations received for the fund;
               (4)  patent, royalty, and license fees and other income
  received under a contract entered into by the Mental Health and
  Brain Institute of Texas; and
               (5)  investment earnings and interest earned on amounts
  credited to the fund.
         (f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  constitution, the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of
  Texas, as established by general law, may use money in the Mental
  Health and Brain Institute Research Fund only for the purpose of
  funding:
               (1)  grants in this state for mental health and brain
  research, research facilities, and research opportunities in this
  state to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or
  procedures for the cure, substantial mitigation, or prevention of
  brain diseases or disorders;
               (2)  grants for the prevention of mental and behavioral
  health issues, substance abuse disorders and other addictions, and
  brain disease and disorder prevention to mitigate the incidence of
  all types of brain diseases or disorders in humans;
               (3)  the purchase, construction, or renovation,
  subject to approval by the institute, of facilities by or on behalf
  of a state agency or grant recipient; and
               (4)  the operation of the institute.
         (g)  Before the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of
  Texas may award a grant under this section, the recipient of the
  grant must have an amount of funds equal to one-half the amount of
  the grant dedicated to the research that is the subject of the grant
  request.
         SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.  
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the creation
  of the Mental Health and Brain Institute of Texas, establishing the
  Mental Health and Brain Institute Research Fund to provide funding
  for mental health and brain research in this state, and
  transferring general revenue to that fund."