CHAPTER 615. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 7. MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION

SUBTITLE E. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS AND

MENTAL RETARDATION

CHAPTER 615. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 615.001. COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY. Each commissioners court

shall provide for the support of a person with mental illness or

mental retardation who is:

(1) a resident of the county;

(2) unable to provide self-support; and

(3) cannot be admitted to a state mental health or mental

retardation facility.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 615.002. ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS BY PROTECTION AND

ADVOCACY SYSTEM. (a) Notwithstanding other state law, the

protection and advocacy system established in this state under

the federal Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals

Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 10801 et seq.) is entitled to access

to records relating to persons with mental illness to the extent

authorized by federal law.

(b) If the patient consents to notification, the protection and

advocacy system shall notify the Texas Department of Mental

Health and Mental Retardation's Office of Client Services and

Rights Protection if the system decides to investigate a

complaint of abuse, neglect, or rights violation that relates to

a patient in a facility or program operated by, licensed by,

certified by, or in a contractual relationship with the

department.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.