88R12942 MPF-D
 
  By: Perry S.B. No. 1677
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment or expansion of behavioral health
  centers or jail diversion centers in certain local mental health
  authority service areas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.09936 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.09936.  ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION OF REGIONAL
  BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS OR JAIL DIVERSION CENTERS. (a)  In this
  section:
               (1)  "Local mental health authority" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.
               (2)  "Nonprofit organization" means an organization
  that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a),
  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt entity
  under Section 501(c)(3) of that code.
         (b)  To the extent money is appropriated to the commission
  for that purpose, the commission, in cooperation with local mental
  health authorities located primarily in rural areas of this state,
  shall contract with nonprofit organizations to establish or expand
  behavioral health centers or jail diversion centers in the
  authorities' local service areas to:
               (1)  provide additional forensic hospital beds and
  competency restoration services;
               (2)  provide inpatient and outpatient mental health
  services to adults and children; and
               (3)  provide services to reduce recidivism and the
  frequency of arrest, incarceration, and emergency detentions among
  persons with mental illness in the service areas.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall develop criteria for
  the evaluation of applications or proposals submitted by a
  nonprofit organization seeking to contract with the commission
  under this section.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Section 531.09936, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.