BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5528

By: Louderback

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that local mental health authorities often work with law enforcement agencies to handle complex mental health crises, which can present opportunities for complications. The bill author has also informed the committee that in the course of an authority's interactions with a law enforcement agency, coordination is critical to ensure the safety of the community, the individual experiencing the crisis, and the law enforcement and mental health officials tasked with handling the issue. H.B. 5528 seeks to establish the Texas Law Enforcement Crisis Prevention Task Force to facilitate collaboration between local mental health authorities, law enforcement agencies, and key stakeholders for the purpose of improving coordination and streamlining processes for responses to mental health crisis situations.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 5528 amends the Health and Safety Code to establish the Texas Law Enforcement Crisis Prevention Task Force to facilitate collaboration among law enforcement agencies, local mental health authorities, and other key stakeholders for purposes of developing strategies for improving coordination and streamlining processes between local mental health authorities, law enforcement agencies, and first responders when responding to a crisis situation. The bill sets out the composition of the task force appointed by the governor as follows:

· representatives from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), municipal and county law enforcement agencies, local mental health authorities, and fire departments;

· emergency medical services personnel; and

· advocacy groups focused on mental health and crisis prevention.

H.B. 5528 sets out the following requirements with respect to the task force's administration:

· a requirement for the governor to designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer;

· a requirement for the governor to appoint the members of the task force as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date;

· a requirement for a vacancy on the task force to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment; and

· a requirement for the task force to meet at least quarterly at the call of the presiding officer.

H.B. 5528 requires the task force to do the following:

· identify and address gaps in the coordination of services between law enforcement agencies, local mental health authorities, and first responders;

· develop recommendations for improving crisis response, including recommendations for training programs and best practices for law enforcement agencies and first responders;

· identify technological solutions to enhance crisis response coordination, including by evaluating how entities share data and communicate for purposes of improving service delivery; and

· explore funding opportunities to support crisis intervention initiatives and the provision of mental health services.

The bill authorizes the task force to establish subcommittees to address specific issues, including rural mental health response, data integration, and specialized crisis intervention training. The bill requires HHSC and TCOLE to provide administrative support to the task force, including reasonably necessary administrative and technical support.

H.B. 5528 makes Government Code provisions relating to state agency advisory committees inapplicable to the task force.

H.B. 5528 requires the task force, not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, to prepare and submit a written report on the task force's activities to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the legislature that does the following:

· summarizes findings on present challenges in crisis response;

· identifies best practices for the provision of crisis services, as determined through stakeholder input; and

· includes recommendations for the following:

o improving coordination between law enforcement agencies, local mental health authorities, and first responders; and

o legislative or other actions to improve crisis intervention efforts.

The bill requires HHSC to publish the report on its website and authorizes the task force to accept gifts, grants, and donations to accomplish the task force's purposes.

H.B. 5528 defines the following terms:

· "first responder" by reference to the meaning assigned that term in the Government Code for purposes of the governor's interoperable radio communications program;

· "law enforcement agency" as an agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to appoint or employ peace officers; and

· "local mental health authority" by reference to the meaning assigned that term in the Texas Mental Health Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.