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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 task force to investigate and make |
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recommendations regarding mental health workforce shortages. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. |
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(a) Not later than October 1, 2013, the Health and Human Services |
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Commission, or a health and human services agency designated by the |
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commission, shall establish a task force to investigate and make |
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recommendations regarding mental health workforce shortages in |
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this state. |
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(b) The task force shall investigate the existence, |
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severity, and causes of mental health workforce shortages in this |
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state. The investigation must specifically identify: |
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(1) the types of providers for which shortages exist, |
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including types such as licensed professionals, certified peer |
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specialists, and direct care staff; |
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(2) the types of licensed professionals, specialists, |
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or staff for which shortages exist; |
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(3) the locations or regions in this state in which |
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shortages exist and in which extraordinary shortages exist; |
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(4) the effect the shortages have on the ability of |
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persons with mental illness to receive services in this state and in |
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those locations or regions identified under Subdivision (3) of this |
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subsection; and |
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(5) the economic and societal effect the shortages |
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have in this state and in those locations or regions identified |
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under Subdivision (3) of this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Not later than |
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December 1, 2014, the Health and Human Services Commission, or the |
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health and human services agency designated by the commission under |
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Section 1 of this Act, shall submit a report to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature that |
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includes: |
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(1) the results of the task force's investigation; and |
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(2) recommended means to alleviate identified mental |
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health workforce shortages. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |