BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 913
89R6113 EAS-D	By: Frank (Hagenbuch)
	Health & Human Services
	5/2/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the North Texas State Hospital is the only state hospital operating under a two campus model (one campus is in Wichita Falls and the other is in Vernon). This could be inefficient and means that the campuses can be neglected in the oversight and attention they need.

Also, two new state hospitals are currently being constructed and have not yet been added to the state code: the Panhandle State Hospital and the Lubbock Psychiatric Center.

H.B. 913 would give the two north Texas campuses each a dedicated superintendent, so they will operate like all other state hospitals. This aims to make the operation and oversight of these two state hospitals more efficient.

H.B. 913 would add the new hospitals currently being constructed to the state code. This will ensure the code is clear regarding the regulations that apply to the two new state hospitals.

H.B. 913 amends current law relating to certain state hospital names and the management of state hospitals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 3 (Section 552.154, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 532.001(b), Health and Safety Code, to provide that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) includes community services operated by DSHS and certain facilities, including the Vernon, rather than North Texas, State Hospital, the Wichita Falls State Hospital, the Panhandle State Hospital, and the Lubbock Psychiatric Center, and to make nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 552.002(a)(2), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "state hospital."

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 552, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 552.154, as follows:

Sec. 552.154. STATE HOSPITAL SUPERINTENDENT. Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission by rule to require each state hospital to employ a superintendent.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2025.