HB5342 - Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.

      H.B. No. 5342         AN ACT   relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services,   including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis   Lifeline and related services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 547, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter K to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER K. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES           Sec.   547.0551.     988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE TRUST FUND.   (a)   In this section, "trust company"   means the Texas Treasury   Safekeeping Trust Company.           (b)     The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline trust fund is   established as a trust fund outside the state treasury to be   administered by the commission.           (c)  The trust fund consists of:                 (1)     gifts, grants, and donations, including federal   funds, received by this state for the purposes of the trust fund;   and                 (2)     interest, dividends, and other income of the trust   fund.           (d)  Money deposited in the trust fund may only be used to:                 (1)     implement, maintain, or improve the 988 Suicide &   Crisis Lifeline, including personnel and technological   infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve operational and   clinical standards and best practices as provided by the 988   Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; and                 (2)     pay the trust company's expenses of managing the   trust fund's assets.           (e)     The trust company shall hold and invest the trust   fund.     The trust fund may be invested with the state treasury pool   and may be pooled with other state assets for purposes of   investment.           (f)     The overall objective for the investment of the trust   fund is to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet the needs of the   trust fund.           (g)     The trust company may acquire, exchange, sell,   supervise, manage, or retain any kind of investment that a prudent   investor, exercising reasonable care, skill, and caution, would   acquire or retain in light of the purposes, terms, distribution   requirements, and other circumstances of the trust fund then   prevailing, taking into consideration the investment of all the   assets of the trust fund rather than a single investment.           (h)     The reasonable expenses of managing the trust fund's   assets shall be paid from the trust fund.           (i)     The commission at least annually, and more frequently as   appropriate, shall provide to the trust company a forecast of the   cash flows into and out of the trust fund to ensure the trust   company is able to achieve the purposes of this section.           (j)     The state may not transfer or use trust fund assets for   any purpose other than the uses provided in this section.           Sec.   547.0552.     CRISIS CENTER ANNUAL REPORT.   (a)   In this   section, "crisis center"   means a center participating in the 988   Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network to respond to statewide or   regional communications.           (b)     The commission shall prepare an annual report of the   usage of crisis centers in this state and the services provided by   the centers.           (c)     The commission shall present the annual report to the   legislature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services   Administration.          SECTION 2.  (a)  In this section, "commission" means the   Health and Human Services Commission.          (b)  The commission, in collaboration with the Commission on   State Emergency Communications and any other state agency the   commission determines appropriate, shall conduct a study on the   implementation of funding mechanisms to support the operation of   the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, including an evaluation of the   feasibility of establishing a service fee on telecommunication   services.          (c)  The study must evaluate how the establishment of a   telecommunication service fee or other funding mechanism will help:                (1)  implement, maintain, or improve the 988 Suicide &   Crisis Lifeline, including providing for sufficient staffing   levels, implementing technological improvements, and developing   the capacity of the lifeline to respond to text messages and other   online messages;                (2)  enhance local response for crisis intervention   services; and                (3)  meet any increased demand on crisis intervention   services as a result of any public awareness campaigns regarding   the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.          (d)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission shall   prepare and submit a report to the legislature on the findings of   the study, including any recommendations for enhancing the crisis   intervention services capacity of this state and an analysis of the   efficacy of implementing a telecommunication service fee or other   funding mechanism for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.          (e)  This section expires September 1, 2027.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 5342 was passed by the House on May 7,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 2, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 5342 was passed by the Senate on May   20, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor