Gámez’s Border Task Force Advises On A Single County

The text as introduced · 1,377 words

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 and long-term border county mental health improvement

plans.

(b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,

the executive commissioner shall submit to the legislature a report

detailing the actions taken by the task force. The report must

include:

(1) the status of all projects and activities

involving the mental and behavioral health issues described under

Section 533.153(b)(3);

(2) the funding for the expenditures; and

(3) recommendations for legislation necessary to

implement the short-term and long-term border county mental health

improvement plans.

SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the commissioner

of the Health and Humas Services Commission, lieutenant governor,

and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the

members of the Border County Mental Health Task Force established

under Subchapter F, Chapter 533, Health and Safety Code, as added by

this Act.

SECTION 3. The initial short-term mental health improvement

plan adopted under Section 533.158, Health and Safety Code, as

added by this Act, must include a mental health improvement plan for

implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2026. The

Health and Human Services Commission shall implement the

initiatives in the short-term mental health improvement plan, as

directed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission, not later than September 1, 2030.

SECTION 4. The initial long-term mental health improvement

plan adopted under Section 533.158, Health and Safety Code, as

added by this Act, must include a mental health improvement plan for

implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2028. The

Health and Human Services Commission shall implement the

initiatives in the long-term mental health improvement plan, as

directed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission, not later than September 1, 2035.

SECTION 5. 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. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.