This section requires the Harris County Psychiatric Center facilities to be leased and operated under an agreement with The University of Texas System, with specific terms for payment, governance, accreditation, audits, data sharing, and treatment policies.
Sec. 73.405. OPERATIONS. (a) The state-supported facilities of the Harris County Psychiatric Center shall be leased to and operated and administered by The University of Texas System in accordance with a lease and operating agreement. The facilities supported by the county or the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, exclusive of the commitment center, may be leased or subleased by The University of Texas System in the same lease and operating agreement or sublease and operating agreement. Any lease and operating agreement or sublease and operating agreement shall provide for a lease payment by The University of Texas System of no more than $1 per year plus other good and valuable consideration as provided for in Section 73.406. (b) In any lease and/or sublease and operating agreement, the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall be the governing board of the Harris County Psychiatric Center facilities that are leased and/or subleased and operated by The University of Texas System. (c) Any lease and/or sublease and operating agreement may provide all necessary or desirable terms for the operation of the Harris County Psychiatric Center and may provide for duties and powers with respect to medical and legal matters, Harris County Psychiatric Center administration, staffing, patient services, reports, annual operating budgets of the Harris County Psychiatric Center, and transfers of appropriated funds as provided for in Section 73.404 of this code. (d) Any lease and operating agreement or sublease and operating agreement shall provide that The University of Texas System shall cause the Harris County Psychiatric Center to be operated in accordance with the standards for accreditation of The Joint Commission; that all financial transactions and performance programs may be appropriately audited; that an admission, discharge, and transfer coordination policy be established; that appropriate patient data be made available to the Health and Human Services Commission, the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and the county, including but not limited to diagnosis and lengths of stay; and that a priority of patient treatment policy be established. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 848, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1279 (H.B. 965), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2019.