2023 Legislative Review & Our New Clinic

The regular 88th Legislative Session ended in May, with two special sessions called by Governor Abbott to address remaining policy issues. In recent years, mental health has emerged as a critical public health issue, demanding urgent attention from policymakers and stakeholders alike. As economic challenges and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect people’s well-being, the need for comprehensive mental health services and support has become increasingly evident. This session, Texas had an unprecedented surplus of $32.7B to work with and lawmakers negotiated a $321.3B budget. The Legislature appropriated $9.4B to behavioral health across 25 state agencies, a 15% increase from last session. Behavioral Health legislation was top of mind this session, with some notable behavioral health bills.

Maintaining and increasing funding through grant programs for key areas impacting our local community

• SB 292, a grant program to reduce recidivism, arrest, and incarceration of individuals with mental illness saw a $30M increase across the state. This program helped fund the establishment of Integral Care’s Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Team in 2018.
• HB 13, a grant program that supports community mental health programs, saw a $15M increase statewide. Integral Care utilizes some of these funds for on-campus mental health services.
• The Healthy Community Collaboratives grant saw an $8M increase in Texas. Led by Integral Care, Travis County’s HCC program has resulted in the implementation of coordinated and effective service delivery in homeless services.
• $30M for a new Innovation Grant Program in SB 26 to expand access to mental health services for children and families statewide.

Enhancing School-Based Mental Health Support

• Funding was increased for youth mobile crisis outreach teams from $8M to $14M, which will help support three additional youth mobile crisis outreach teams for children in foster care.
• To support student mental health, the Legislature increased funding for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) telehealth program from $50M to $142M for the biennium with the aim of extending TCHATT to all school districts. Integral Care and Dell Medical School provide telehealth appointments to help meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents in Travis County through TCHATT.
• HB 1 includes a $58M increase in funding for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services, a statewide program that serves families with children birth to 36 months with developmental delays or disabilities.
• HB 3 increased Mental Health First Aid training requirements for teachers to address shortages in the mental health workforce serving children. Integral Care provides Mental Health First Aid Training in Travis County. Register here.

Expanding access and Enhancing Care Quality

• SB 26 is one of the most significant bills passed this session which includes funding and directives across an array of mental health services. In addition to its matching grant program for community-based initiatives, it requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a plan for transitioning individuals who require a nursing facility level of care and high level of behavioral support, out of state hospitals. The bill adds to current statute related to Non-Physician Mental Health Professionals (NPMHPs) stationed in Education Service Centers to allow Local Mental Health Authorities to request a waiver if there is a shortage of qualified NPMHP applicants, allowing an LMSW or LPC-A to be employed to perform the NPMHP duties.

Taking Action to address the Opioid Crisis

• SB 867 amends the Health and Safety Code, authorizing HHSC to provide opioid antagonists (like Naloxone) under the opioid antagonist program to include institutions of higher education.
• In addition to support for institutions of higher education, HB 3908 requires fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness education for public school students in grades 6 through 12.
• SB 629 requires public school districts and authorizes open‑enrollment charter schools and private schools to adopt and implement a policy regarding the maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists for campuses that serve students in grades 6 through 12.
• SB 1319 requires mandatory reporting of overdoses for the purpose of public safety mapping and applies to a law enforcement officer, first responder, or other person who administers emergency services who is employed by a county. Access to this overdose data will help public health agencies mobilize prevention and intervention response, and hopefully save lives.

We appreciate our legislators for their hard work and continued support of behavioral health. Read more in our End of Session Report, which highlights additional information about behavioral health legislation passed this session including Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Suicide Prevention and Workforce.