SB2069 - Relating to the establishment of a work group to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing an acute psychiatric bed registry.

      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       ______________________________              Governor