Zaffirini Psychiatric Bed Registry Bill Ends In A 2026 Report

The text as introduced · 582 words

89R4943 RAL-D

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2069

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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 unless otherwise provided:

(1) one member with appropriate expertise appointed by

the governor;

(2) two members with appropriate expertise appointed

by the lieutenant governor;

(3) two members with appropriate expertise appointed

by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) the chair of the Texas Hospital Association or the

chair's designee;

(5) the president of the Texas Medical Association or

the president's designee;

(6) the president of the Texas Nurses Association or

the president's designee;

(7) two members who are experts in the field of

technology;

(8) one member who is a licensed psychiatrist;

(9) one member who is a licensed professional

counselor, as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code;

(10) one member who works in a substance use treatment

facility;

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

located in a rural area of this state;

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

located in a county with a population of four million or more;

(13) 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;

(14) one member who is a representative of a public

hospital;

(15) one member who is a representative of a private

hospital;

(16) one member who is a statistician;

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

(18) 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 September 1, 2026, 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

September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the applicable appointing authorities shall appoint

the members to the work group established by this Act.

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