New attention could be coming to a bill filed by a State Representative out of San Antonio. Democrat Ruth Jones McClendon filed the bill in November but the topic is timely.
McClendon says House Bill 205 would increase the availability of mental health beds provided by the state.
She says, right now, Texas provides one pool of funding for beds for two main categories of people in need of mental health services: those unable to make sound decisions and those detained for mental evaluation after a crime.HB 205 would set separate minimum requirements for funding and beds for each group. McClendon says the change could save the state money by keeping mental health patients out of prison.
Access to mental health care has been a part of the national discussion over preventing instances of mass violence in the wake of yet another school shooting.
