AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas health officials have released the first allotment of funds from a $300 million effort to overhaul the state's crumbling psychiatric hospitals.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced Monday that it was releasing the first $48 million in funding that lawmakers approved last year to improve the 10 hospitals in the state system.

"A strong state psychiatric system is critically important to all Texans. This investment will benefit the state for generations," said Charles Smith, the executive commissioner. "With this support from state leadership, we can...