Sec. 462.005. COSTS. (a) The laws relating to the payment of the costs of commitment, support, maintenance, and treatment and to the securing of reimbursement for the actual costs applicable to court-ordered mental health, probation, or parole services apply to each item of expense incurred by the state or the county in connection with the commitment, care, custody, treatment, and rehabilitation of a person receiving care and treatment under this chapter.

(b) A county that enters an order of commitment or detention under this chapter is liable for payment of the costs of any proceedings related to that order, including:

(1) court-appointed attorney fees;

(2) physician examination fees;

(3) compensation for language or sign interpreters;

(4) compensation for masters; and

(5) expenses to transport a patient to a hearing or to a treatment facility.

(c) A county or the state is entitled to reimbursement from any of the following persons for costs actually paid by the county or state and that relate to an order of commitment or detention:

(1) the patient;

(2) the applicant; or

(3) a person or estate liable for the patient's support in a treatment facility.

(d) On a motion of the county or district attorney or on the court's own motion, the court may require an applicant to file a cost bond with the court.

(e) The state shall pay the costs of transporting a discharged patient to the patient's home or of returning to a treatment facility a patient absent without permission unless the patient or a person responsible for the patient is able to pay the costs.

(f) The state or the county may not pay any costs for a patient committed to a private hospital unless no public facilities are available and unless authorized by the department or the commissioners court of the county, as appropriate.

(g) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a person who files an application for the commitment of another while acting in the person's capacity as an employee of a local mental health authority is not liable for the payment of any costs under this section.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 175, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 567, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.1161, eff. April 2, 2015.