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89(R) SB 1608 - Engrossed version - Bill Text
By: Campbell, Johnson
S.B. No. 1608
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to physical examination requirements for patients
admitted to an inpatient mental health facility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 575, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 575.004 and 575.005 to read as
follows:
Sec.
575.004.
IN-PERSON PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a)
Except as provided by Subsection (b), a physical examination or
assessment of a patient admitted to an inpatient mental health
facility that is required to be conducted on the patient's
admission must be conducted in person.
(b)
A physical examination or assessment described by
Subsection (a) may be conducted using telemedicine medical services
if, at the time the examination or assessment is required to be
conducted, the area in which the inpatient mental health facility
is located is subject to a declaration of disaster by the governor
under Chapter 418, Government Code, or a declaration of local
disaster under that chapter.
In this subsection, "telemedicine
medical service"
has the meaning assigned by Section 111.001,
Occupations Code.
Sec.
575.005.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS IN CERTAIN
COUNTIES.
(a)
This section applies only to an inpatient mental
health facility located in a county with a population of less than
200,000.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other law, a physical examination
or assessment described by Section 575.004(a) of a patient admitted
to an inpatient mental health facility to which this section
applies must be conducted not later than 48 hours after the
patient's admission.
SECTION 2. Sections 575.004 and 575.005, Health and Safety
Code, as added by this Act, apply only to the admission of a patient
to an inpatient mental health facility that occurs on or after the
effective date of this Act. The admission of a patient to an
inpatient mental health facility that occurs before the effective
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
admission occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.