H.B. No. 281 aims to enhance disaster behavioral health coordination and response in Texas by amending the Government Code to include a new Subchapter Z. This subchapter establishes a framework for the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to designate staff responsible for coordinating statewide disaster behavioral health preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The designated staff will work with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, manage federal crisis counseling program applications, maintain a registry of qualified behavioral health personnel, and provide technical assistance to local mental health authorities. Additionally, the bill outlines the deployment of behavioral health services to disaster-affected areas, which must be activated within specific timeframes following disaster declarations.

The bill also mandates local mental health authorities to incorporate disaster behavioral health components into their emergency plans and maintain contact information for relevant personnel. It requires the HHSC to serve as the state administrative agency for federal crisis counseling grants and to ensure that services are provided at no cost to disaster survivors. Furthermore, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the HHSC are tasked with developing integrated disaster response protocols that include behavioral health components. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on the 91st day after the legislative session if that vote is not achieved.

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