S.B. No. 2069

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a work group to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing an acute psychiatric bed registry.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the commission.

(3) "Inpatient mental health facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 571.003, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The commission shall establish a work group to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a statewide or regional acute psychiatric bed registry to list available beds at inpatient mental health facilities for the inpatient psychiatric treatment of certain individuals.

(c) The work group consists of the following members appointed by the executive commissioner:

(1) the chair of the Texas Hospital Association or the chair's designee;

(2) the president of the Texas Medical Association or the president's designee;

(3) the president of the Texas Nurses Association or the president's designee;

(4) two members who are experts in the field of technology;

(5) one member who is a licensed psychiatrist;

(6) one member who is a licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code;

(7) one member who works in a substance use treatment facility;

(8) one member who is a representative of a hospital located in a rural area of this state;

(9) one member who is a representative of a hospital located in a county with a population of four million or more;

(10) one member who is a representative of a hospital located in an urban area of this state in a county with a population of less than four million;

(11) one member who is a representative of a public hospital;

(12) one member who is a representative of a private hospital;

(13) one member who is a statistician;

(14) one member who is a public health expert; and

(15) any other member with appropriate expertise as the executive commissioner determines necessary.

(d) The work group shall elect from among the membership a presiding officer.

(e) The work group shall meet periodically and at the call of the presiding officer.

(f) Not later than November 1, 2027, the commission shall prepare and submit to each standing committee of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over mental health a written report that summarizes the results of the study conducted under this section. The report must:

(1) evaluate the effect of bed registries;

(2) include recommendations for increasing public awareness of bed registries;

(3) include recommendations for leveraging financial incentives and legislative, regulatory, or contractual mechanisms to expedite the entry of data for bed registries;

(4) assess the effect of hospital reimbursements in increasing bed availability;

(5) evaluate psychiatric treatment capacity in relation to bed availability; and

(6) include any other information the commission considers necessary.

(g) The work group is abolished and this section expires November 1, 2028.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall appoint the members to the work group established by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2069 passed the Senate on May 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2069 passed the House on May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 92, Nays 44, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor