Bill

HB 13

85(R) - 2017
House Public Health
Senate Health & Human Services
House Public Health
Senate Health & Human Services
Health & Human Services
Healthcare

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Four Price

Sponsor(s)

Charles Schwertner

Bill Caption

Relating to the creation of a matching grant program to support community mental health programs for individuals experiencing mental illness.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 13, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($20,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

This bill would create a matching grant program to support community mental heath programs providing services and treatment to people experiencing mental illness to the extent that funds are available.The bill would require grant recipients to secure contributions to match awarded grants. 

Mental health grants and matching contributions would be required to be used solely for supporting community programs that provide care and services for people who experience mental illness and that coordinate mental heathcare services. Rules would be proscribed pertaining to selecting grant award recipients.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill could save the state money in the long run by providing funds for community based mental health services for those who need them, giving them treatment up front to prevent the later arrest or incarceration of persons with mental health issues. However, we do not have enough concrete evidence to support these speculative future savings, therefore we remain neutral.