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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a mental health jail diversion pilot |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 579 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 579. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM; HARRIS |
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COUNTY |
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Sec. 579.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the |
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department. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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Sec. 579.002. MENTAL HEALTH JAIL DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM. |
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The department shall establish and operate a pilot program in |
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Harris County for the purpose of reducing jail recidivism among |
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persons with mental illness in that county. |
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Sec. 579.003. CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE MODEL. |
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The department shall design and test through the pilot program a new |
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criminal justice mental health service model. The department may |
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develop and test innovative solutions to problems that arise during |
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the operation of the pilot program and redesign the model as the |
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department acquires more information. The model initially must |
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apply the critical time intervention principle described by Section |
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579.004 and must include the following elements: |
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(1) low caseload management; |
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(2) multilevel residential services; and |
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(3) easy access to: |
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(A) integrated health, mental health, and |
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chemical dependency services; |
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(B) benefits acquisition services; and |
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(C) multiple rehabilitation services. |
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Sec. 579.004. CRITICAL TIME INTERVENTION. The pilot |
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program, in applying the critical time intervention principle, must |
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give persons with mental illness access to available social, |
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clinical, housing, and welfare services during the first weeks |
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after the person's release from jail. |
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Sec. 579.005. LOCAL SERVICES COORDINATION. In designing |
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the criminal justice mental health service model the department |
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shall seek input from and coordinate the provision of services with |
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the following local entities: |
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(1) the mental health division of the office of the |
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district attorney of Harris County; |
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(2) the Harris County public defender; |
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(3) mental health courts; |
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(4) specially trained law enforcement crisis |
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intervention teams and crisis intervention response teams; |
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(5) providers of competency restoration services; |
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(6) providers of guardianship services; |
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(7) providers of forensic case management; |
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(8) providers of assertive community treatment; |
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(9) providers of crisis stabilization services; |
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(10) providers of intensive and general supportive |
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housing; and |
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(11) providers of integrated mental health and |
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substance abuse inpatient, outpatient, and rehabitation services. |
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Sec. 579.006. PROGRAM CAPACITY. (a) In establishing the |
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pilot program, the department shall ensure the program has the |
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resources to provide mental health jail diversion services to not |
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fewer than 200 individuals. |
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(b) The department shall endeavor to serve each year the |
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program operates not fewer than 500 or more than 600 individuals |
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cumulatively. |
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Sec. 579.007. FINANCING THE PROGRAM. (a) The creation of |
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the pilot program under this chapter is contingent on the |
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continuing agreement of the Commissioners Court of Harris County to |
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contribute $32,650,000 to the funding of the program each year in |
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which the program operates. |
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(b) It is the intent of the legislature that appropriations |
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made to fund the pilot program are made in addition to and will not |
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reduce the amount of appropriations made in the regular funding of |
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the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County |
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or the Harris County Psychiatric Center. |
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Sec. 579.008. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2016, |
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the commissioner shall submit a report concerning the pilot program |
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to the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate |
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and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over |
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health and human services issues and over criminal justice issues. |
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(b) The report must include a description of the features of |
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the criminal justice mental health service model developed and |
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tested under the pilot program and the commissioner's |
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recommendation whether to expand use of the model statewide. |
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Sec. 579.009. CONCLUSION; EXPIRATION. The pilot program |
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established under this chapter concludes and this chapter expires |
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September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |