HB4844 - Relating to the establishment of a border county mental health task force.

      By: Gámez H.B. No. 4844       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a border county mental health task   force.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 533, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER F. BORDER COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE           Sec.   533.151.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"   means the Border County Mental Health Task Force established under   this subchapter.           Sec.   533.152.     SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject   to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).   Unless   continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force   is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2037.           Sec.   533.153.     TASK FORCE; DUTIES.   (a)   The Health and Human   Services Commission shall establish the task force under the Office   of Rural Mental Health to advise the commissioner regarding the   mental and behavioral health problems, conditions, challenges, and   needs of the population of a county that:                 (1)     is adjacent to the international border with   Mexico; and                 (2)     has a population of less than 500,000 and more than   400,000.           (b)  The task force shall advise the commissioner on:                 (1)     policy priorities addressing major issues   affecting the mental and behavioral health of county residents;                 (2)     raising public awareness of the issues described   by Subdivision (1); and                 (3)     other mental and behavioral health issues   affecting county residents, as determined by the commissioner,   including:                       (A)     barriers to accessing mental and behavioral   health care;                       (B)     mental and behavioral health problems,   including, but not limited to:                             (i)  suicide;                             (ii)  depression;                             (iii)  eating disorders;                             (iv)  substance abuse;                             (v)  schizophrenia; and                             (vi)  bipolar disorder;                       (C)     factors that impede access to mental and   behavioral health care, including:                             (i)  socioeconomic conditions;                             (ii)  linguistic and cultural barriers;                             (iii)  low population density; and                             (iv)  lack of health insurance;                       (D)     tracking of factors that negatively affect   the residents' mental and behavioral health;                       (E)     standardization of information collection   procedures;                       (F)     identifying best practices and   standardization of first responder and law enforcement response to   individuals suffering mental health crisis;                       (G)     mental and behavioral health infrastructure   that includes the establishment of:                             (i)     education and research institutions to   train culturally competent mental and behavioral health care   providers; and                             (ii)     local and regional mental and   behavioral health programs that build on local resources and   maximize the use of public money to address the needs of indigent   populations; and                       (H)     consult, collaboration, and cooperation at   with any:                             (i)     other health and human services   agencies;                             (ii)     other appropriate state or federal   agencies;                             (iii)     health science centers and medical   schools; and                             (iv)     public and private health care   providers and hospitals.                             (v)     Mexican counterparts of the task force;   or                             (vi)     federal counterparts of the task force   operating in the United States.           Sec.   533.154.     COLLABORATION WITH OFFICE OF RURAL MENTAL   HEALTH. The Office of Rural Mental Health established under may   provide to the extent practicable assistance required by the task   force.           Sec.   533.155.     COMPOSITION; TERMS. (a) The task force is   composed of:                 (1)     one member appointed by the commissioner who is a   first responder or emergency personnel in the county to which this   task force applies with experience treating patients experiencing   mental and behavioral health problems;                 (2)     two ex officio nonvoting members who are members   of the legislature:                       (A)     one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant   governor; and                       (B)     one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the   house of representatives; and                 (3)     additional voting members appointed by the   commissioner from the county to which this task force applies   including but not limited to representatives from:                       (A)  hospitals;                       (B)  community health centers;                       (C)  the local mental health authority;                       (D)  the county health administration;                       (E)     a judge with experience in mental health   diversion proceedings; and                       (F)  the district attorney's office.           (b)     The task force shall designate a chair and vice chair of   the task force from among the task force members.           (c)     The members appointed by the lieutenant governor and the   speaker of the house of representatives serve three-year terms.   The remaining members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the   commissioner.           Sec.   533.156.     MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at   least quarterly each fiscal year. Members may hold meetings by   conference calls and through videoconference in accordance with   Section 551.127, Government Code.           (b)     Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting   held by conference call under this section, except that Subsection   (b) of that section does not apply.           Sec.   533.157.     COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A task force   member is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for   expenses incurred in performing the member's duties.           Sec.   533.158.     SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BORDER COUNTY MENTAL   HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLANS: TASK FORCE, COMMISSIONER, AND EXECUTIVE   COMMISSIONER DUTIES. (a) The task force shall make   recommendations to the commissioner for short-term and long-term   border county mental health improvement plans.   The short-term plan   shall identify mental and behavioral health objectives proposed to   be accomplished not later than the fourth anniversary of the date   the plan is adopted.   The long-term plan shall identify mental and   behavioral health objectives proposed to be accomplished not later   than the ninth anniversary of the date the plan is adopted.           (b)     The commissioner shall review the task force's   recommendations and, based on those recommendations, recommend   short-term and long-term border county mental health improvement   plans to the executive commissioner, identifying specific mental   and behavioral health objectives that may be implemented under   existing law in counties located along the international border   with Mexico.           (c)     The executive commissioner shall adopt short-term and   long-term border county mental health improvement plans and direct   the commission to implement the portions of the plans that may be   implemented within existing appropriations and under existing law   in counties located along the international border with Mexico.           Sec.   533.159.     APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,   Government Code, does not apply to the task force.           Sec.   533.160.     ASSISTANCE FROM STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL   SUBDIVISIONS. At the request of the task force, a state agency or   political subdivision of this state may cooperate with the task   force in implementing the task force's statutory duties.           Sec.   533.161.     REPORTS. (a)   Not later than September 1 of   each even-numbered year, the task force shall submit to the   commissioner a report of the task force's recommendations,   including recommendations under Section 533.158 relating to   short-term an [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]