Texas · Through 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025

Tex. Health and Safety Code § 256.003: PROHIBITED DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS TO CERTAIN GROUP-CENTERED FACILITIES.

(a) Subject to Subsection (b), a hospital or other health facility may discharge or otherwise release a patient to the care of a group home, boarding home facility, or similar group-centered facility only if the person who operates the group-centered facility holds a license or permit issued in accordance with applicable state law.
(b) A hospital or other health facility may discharge or otherwise release a patient to the care of a group home, boarding home facility, or similar group-centered facility operated by a person who does not hold a license or permit issued in accordance with applicable state law only if:
(1) no group-centered facility is operated in the county in which the patient is discharged by a person who holds the applicable license or permit; or
(2) the patient voluntarily elects to reside in the group-centered facility of the unlicensed or unpermitted person.
(c) A hospital or other health facility is not liable for damages to a patient resulting from the patient's discharge or release to a group home, boarding home facility, or similar group-centered facility under Subsection (b).
(d) A local health authority may not issue an order authorizing a hospital or health facility to discharge or release a patient to a group-centered facility in a manner that conflicts with this section.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 186), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

Where this section sits in the code

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 4. HEALTH FACILITIES
SUBTITLE B. LICENSING OF HEALTH FACILITIES
CHAPTER 256. SAFE PATIENT HANDLING, MOVEMENT, AND DISCHARGE PRACTICES

(b) A hospital or other health facility may discharge or otherwise release a patient to the care of a group home, boarding home facility, or similar group-centered facility operated by a person who does not hold a license or permit issued in accordance with applicable state law only if:

(1) no group-centered facility is operated in the county in which the patient is discharged by a person who holds the applicable license or permit; or

(2) the patient voluntarily elects to reside in the group-centered facility of the unlicensed or unpermitted person.

(c) A hospital or other health facility is not liable for damages to a patient resulting from the patient's discharge or release to a group home, boarding home facility, or similar group-centered facility under Subsection (b).

(d) A local health authority may not issue an order authorizing a hospital or health facility to discharge or release a patient to a group-centered facility in a manner that conflicts with this section.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 186), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:17Z. Source file · JSON

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