| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
Summary: HB 205 would require the Texas department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to develop a plan to determine the needs of patients receiving voluntary mental health services and those receiving services under court order, make a determination of the number of beds that will be needed, and develop a statewide plan to sufficiently allocate resources to provide beds for these two groups. HB 205 requires the department to meet with an advisory panel consisting of law enforcement officials, mental health officials, and state and local officials, who will make recommendations to improve the program. HB 205 requires the department to report to the Legislature and Governor on the plan’s implementation in December, 2013. HB 205 forbids the department from issuing any sanctions on local mental health authorities for non-compliance.
Analysis: HB 205 requires Texas to make a plan for addressing mental health care. The state should investigate to see if there is a better way to coordinate the mental health care for certain individuals and free law enforcement to do their intended jobs. Support HB 205.