TITLE: Relating to mental health services development plans as updated by local mental health authority groups.

SUMMARY: Relating to mental health services development plans as updated by local mental health authority groups.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to mental health services development plans as updated by local mental health authority groups. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0222 to read as follows: Sec. 531.0222. LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY GROUP REGIONAL PLANNING. (a) In this section, "local mental health authority group" means a group of local mental health authorities established by the commission under Chapter 963 (S.B. 633), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. (b) Each local mental health authority group shall meet at least quarterly to collaborate on planning and implementing regional strategies to reduce: (1) costs to local governments of providing services to persons experiencing a mental health crisis; (2) transportation to mental health facilities of persons served by an authority that is a member of the group; (3) incarceration of persons with mental illness in county jails that are located in an area served by an authority that is a member of the group; and (4) visits by persons with mental illness at hospital emergency rooms located in an area served by an authority that is a member of the group. (c) Annually, each local mental health authority group shall submit to the commission an updated version of the mental health services development plan that was initially developed for the group under Chapter 963 (S.B. 633), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. The group's updated plan must include a description of: (1) actions taken by the group to implement strategies in the plan; and (2) new strategies identified by the group to reduce the circumstances described by Subsection (b). (d) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission, using existing resources, shall produce and publish on its Internet website a report containing the most recent version of each mental health services development plan submitted by a local mental health authority group. SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 531.0222, Government Code, as added by this Act, a local mental health authority group and the Health and Human Services Commission are not required to produce or publish a report required by that section before December 1, 2022. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.