HB185 - Relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas.

  89R241 MPF-F     By: Thompson H.B. No. 185       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research   Institute of Texas.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 157 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 157. MENTAL HEALTH AND BRAIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS           Sec. 157.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Institute" means the Mental Health and Brain   Research Institute of Texas.                 (2)     "Oversight committee" means the Mental Health and   Brain Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee.                 (3)     "Peer review committee" means the Mental Health   and Brain Research Institute of Texas Peer Review Committee.                 (4)     “Program integration committee” means the Mental   Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas Program Integration   Committee.                 (5)     "Research plan" means the Texas Mental Health and   Brain Health Research Plan developed by the institute.           Sec.   157.002.     PURPOSES. The Mental Health and Brain   Research Institute of Texas is established to:                 (1)     create and expedite innovation in mental health   and brain research to improve the health of residents of this state,   enhance the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in   mental health and brain-related sciences and biomedical research,   and enhance the mental health and brain research superiority of   this state;                 (2)     attract, create, or expand research capabilities   of eligible institutions of higher education and other public or   private entities by awarding grants to promote a substantial   increase in mental health and brain research, strategies for   prevention of mental health issues and brain-related diseases,   mental health and brain health initiatives, and the creation of   exceptional jobs in this state; and                 (3)     develop and implement a research plan to foster   synergistic collaboration between eligible institutions of higher   education and their partners and other grant recipients in mental   health and brain health research.           Sec.   157.003.     STATE AUDITOR. Nothing in this chapter   limits the authority of the state auditor under Chapter 321,   Government Code, or other law.   SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF INSTITUTE           Sec. 157.051.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The institute:                 (1)     may award grants to institutions of learning,   advanced medical research facilities, public or private persons,   and collaborations in this state to further the purposes of this   chapter and Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution, including:                       (A)  implementation of the research plan;                       (B)     research, including translational and   clinical research, into:                             (i)     the causes of, the means of prevention   of, the treatment and rehabilitation of, and the cures for mental   health issues and human brain-related diseases, syndromes,   disorders, dysfunctions, injuries, developmental issues,   neurological health issues, behavioral health issues, and   substance use disorders and other addictions; and                             (ii)     any other issues affecting mental   health and the human brain, including issues that directly or   indirectly affect or are affected by mental health or the brain or   brain health, such as the gut microbiome, nutrition, and the spinal   cord or nervous system, that the peer review committee and the   oversight committee approve;                       (C)     research, including translational research,   to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or   procedures for the cure or substantial mitigation of all types of   human brain diseases and disorders;                       (D)     support for institutions of learning,   advanced medical research facilities, public or private persons,   and collaborations in this state in conducting the research subject   to the grant award, including in developing programs to address   access to advanced treatment of mental health issues and brain   diseases or disorders;                       (E)     facilities, equipment, supplies, salaries,   benefits, and other costs related to mental health and brain   research; and                       (F)     prevention programs and strategies to   mitigate the incidence of detrimental health impacts on mental   health or the brain;                 (2)     shall collaborate with relevant state agencies,   coordinating councils, and consortiums to enhance mental health and   brain-related health care and research;                 (3)     shall establish the appropriate standards and   oversight bodies to ensure money authorized under this chapter is   properly used for the purposes of this chapter;                 (4)     shall employ necessary staff to provide   administrative support to the institute;                 (5)     may contract with another state agency to share   the cost of administrative services, including grant accounting,   grant monitoring, technical and document management of the grant   application review process, legal services, and compliance   services;                 (6)     shall monitor grant contracts authorized by this   chapter and ensure each grant recipient complies with the terms and   conditions of the contract;                 (7)     shall ensure all grant proposals comply with this   chapter and rules adopted under this chapter before the proposals   are submitted to the oversight committee for approval;                 (8)     shall establish procedures to document compliance   by the institute, its employees, and its committee members   appointed under this chapter with all laws and rules governing the   peer review process and conflicts of interest; and                 (9)     shall create a statewide research and clinical   data registry for mental health and brain research.           (b)     The institute shall implement and monitor the research   plan and revise the plan as necessary.           Sec.   157.052.     CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; CHIEF COMPLIANCE   OFFICER; ADDITIONAL OFFICERS. (a) The oversight committee shall   hire a chief executive officer. The chief executive officer shall   perform the duties required by this chapter and the duties   designated by the oversight committee. The chief executive officer   must have a demonstrated ability to lead and develop academic,   commercial, and governmental partnerships and coalitions.           (b)     The institute shall employ a chief compliance officer to   monitor compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this   chapter and to report incidents of noncompliance to the oversight   committee.           (c)     The chief executive officer may hire any other officer   position the chief executive officer determines necessary for   efficient operation of the institute.           Sec.   157.053.     ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORT; INTERNET POSTING. Not   later than January 31 of each year, the institute shall prepare and   submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the   house of representatives, and the standing committee of each house   of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over institute matters   and post on the institute's Internet website a report on:                 (1)  the institute's activities under this chapter;                 (2)     a list of recipients of grants awarded during the   preceding state fiscal year and the grant amount awarded to each   recipient;                 (3)     any research accomplishments a grant recipient or   the recipient's partners achieved during the preceding state fiscal   year;                 (4)     an overview summary of the institute's most recent   audited financial statement;                 (5)     an assessment of the relationship between the   institute's grants and the strategy of its research program;                 (6)     a statement of the institute's strategic research   plans;                 (7)     an estimate of the financial cost to this state of   mental health issues and brain disease during the most recent state   fiscal year for which data is available, including the amounts this   state spent related to mental health issues and brain disease   through the Medicaid program, the Teacher Retirement System of   Texas, and the Employees Retirement System of Texas;                 (8)     a statement of the institute's compliance program   activities, including any proposed legislation or other   recommendations identified through the activities;                 (9)  for the preceding state fiscal year:                       (A)     a list of any conflicts of interest requiring   recusal under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;                       (B)     any unreported conflicts of interest   confirmed by an investigation conducted under Section 157.254,   including any institute actions regarding an unreported conflict of   interest and subsequent investigation; and                       (C)     any waivers granted through the process   established under Section 157.253; and                 (10)  the institute's future direction.           Sec.   157.054.     INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT. (a) The   institute shall annually commission a certified public accounting   firm to perform an independent financial audit of its activities.           (b)     The oversight committee shall review the annual   financial audit and the financial practices of the institute.           Sec.   157.055.     GRANT RECORDS; AUDIT OF ELECTRONIC GRANT   MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a)   The institute shall maintain complete   records of:                 (1)     the review of each grant application submitted to   the institute, including the score the peer review committee   assigns to each r [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]