Darby Bill Adds A Rural Mental Health Office To The Governor’s

The text as introduced · 552 words

90R492 RAL-F

By: Darby
H.B. No. 714

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Office of Rural Mental Health

and Intellectual Disability Services within the office of the

governor.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 535 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 535. OFFICE OF RURAL MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL

DISABILITY SERVICES

Sec. 535.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Community center" means a center established

under Subchapter A, Chapter 534.

(2) "Director" means the director of the office.

(3) "Office" means the Office of Rural Mental Health

and Intellectual Disability Services established under this

chapter.

(4) "Rural community" means a county with a population

of less than 120,000.

Sec. 535.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF OFFICE. (a)

From money appropriated or otherwise available for that purpose,

the Office of Rural Mental Health and Intellectual Disability

Services is established as an office within the office of the

governor.

(b) The office is established to:

(1) provide strategic leadership for the

community-based mental health care system in rural communities;

(2) promote the development of responsible community

centers in rural communities;

(3) identify barriers to the financial viability of

community centers in rural communities;

(4) assist community centers in rural communities in

procuring available state and federal grants;

(5) help ensure timely resolution of vendor and health

care complaints made to the commission by community centers in

rural communities; and

(6) provide legislative recommendations to

strengthen, streamline, and improve community mental health care

access in rural communities.

Sec. 535.003. ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT. The Governor's

Committee on People with Disabilities shall oversee the

administration of the office.

Sec. 535.004. POWERS. The office may:

(1) solicit and accept gifts, grants, or loans from

and contract with any entity;

(2) establish ad hoc advisory committees as necessary

to carry out the office's duties under this chapter; and

(3) exercise any other power the governor determines

necessary to carry out this chapter.

Sec. 535.005. DIRECTOR; DUTIES. (a) The governor shall

employ a director of the office. The director serves at the pleasure

of the governor.

(b) The director must have demonstrated:

(1) experience in the field of mental health community

services in rural communities; and

(2) executive and organizational ability.

(c) The director shall:

(1) manage the affairs of the office;

(2) ensure the office fulfills its duties under this

chapter; and

(3) establish appropriate milestones and standards to

ensure proper use of money under this chapter.

(d) The director may hire staff as necessary to implement

the duties of the office under this chapter.

Sec. 535.006. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of

each even-numbered year, the director shall prepare and submit to

the governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board a

written report that describes:

(1) any findings and recommendations of the office

related to furthering the office's goals, purposes, and objectives

under this chapter; and

(2) any legislative recommendations of the office to

accomplish and further the findings and recommendations described

by Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the office of the governor shall implement the changes

in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.