Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB1574 Compare Versions

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1	1	H.B. No. 1574
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to services for persons with autism and other pervasive
6	6	developmental disorders and their families.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Chapter 114, Human Resources Code, is amended by
9	9	adding Section 114.013 to read as follows:
10	10	Sec. 114.013. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS RESOURCE CENTER.
11	11	(a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall establish and
12	12	administer an autism spectrum disorders resource center to
13	13	coordinate resources for individuals with autism and other
14	14	pervasive developmental disorders and their families. In
15	15	establishing and administering the center, the Health and Human
16	16	Services Commission shall consult with the council and coordinate
17	17	with appropriate state agencies, including each agency represented
18	18	on the council.
19	19	(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall design
20	20	the center to:
21	21	(1) collect and distribute information and research
22	22	regarding autism and other pervasive developmental disorders;
23	23	(2) conduct training and development activities for
24	24	persons who may interact with an individual with autism or another
25	25	pervasive developmental disorder in the course of their employment,
26	26	including school, medical, or law enforcement personnel;
27	27	(3) coordinate with local entities that provide
28	28	services to an individual with autism or another pervasive
29	29	developmental disorder; and
30	30	(4) provide support for families affected by autism
31	31	and other pervasive developmental disorders.
32	32	SECTION 2. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health
33	33	and Human Services Commission shall conduct a study to determine
34	34	the costs and benefits to this state of initiating a pilot program
35	35	to provide services to adult persons with autism and other related
36	36	disabilities with similar support needs.
37	37	(b) The study will determine the costs and benefits of a
38	38	pilot program based on a program designed to:
39	39	(1) encourage sustainable employment and community
40	40	integration through specialized supports coordination, case
41	41	management, vocational assessment, training, and support to
42	42	increase job skills and competitive employment opportunities;
43	43	(2) develop meaningful community-based activities for
44	44	persons for whom competitive employment is not a goal;
45	45	(3) promote continued individual development and
46	46	avoid regression;
47	47	(4) promote self-determination and independence;
48	48	(5) coordinate services and behavioral supports
49	49	across all areas of need; and
50	50	(6) allow for flexible funding and for a flexible
51	51	array of services to meet individual needs.
52	52	(c) In conducting the study, the executive commissioner of
53	53	the Health and Human Services Commission shall:
54	54	(1) define and describe a pilot program with a
55	55	seamless system of supports to provide:
56	56	(A) options for independent living, if
57	57	appropriate;
58	58	(B) community-based housing, if needed; and
59	59	(C) individualized supports, including:
60	60	(i) prevocational training;
61	61	(ii) employment training; and
62	62	(iii) leisure and recreational activities;
63	63	(2) research and analyze best practices and programs
64	64	from other states that may serve as pilot program models;
65	65	(3) consult with and solicit feedback from key
66	66	stakeholders, including advocacy organizations, potential service
67	67	recipients, and parents;
68	68	(4) address the barriers that may prevent adults with
69	69	autism or other related disabilities with similar support needs
70	70	from living in their local community including:
71	71	(A) housing needs and living arrangements;
72	72	(B) behavioral services;
73	73	(C) social and communication services and
74	74	supports;
75	75	(D) transportation issues; and
76	76	(E) health and medical care;
77	77	(5) identify the existence and cause of service gaps
78	78	in this state;
79	79	(6) develop recommendations and determine costs
80	80	associated with eliminating service gaps;
81	81	(7) identify the potential benefit to persons who
82	82	would receive services from the pilot program; and
83	83	(8) identify potential federal sources of funding for
84	84	a pilot program.
85	85	(d) Not later than September 1, 2010, the executive
86	86	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
87	87	submit a report of the findings and conclusions of the study to the
88	88	governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
89	89	representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing
90	90	committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary
91	91	jurisdiction over the provision of services to persons with
92	92	disabilities.
93	93	(e) The report required under Subsection (d) of this section
94	94	must include:
95	95	(1) a recommendation for the structure of a pilot
96	96	program;
97	97	(2) a recommendation on the choice of an appropriate
98	98	agency to design and administer a pilot program;
99	99	(3) an estimation of the number of persons who may
100	100	benefit from a pilot program if a program similar to the pilot
101	101	program were instituted statewide;
102	102	(4) an estimation of the potential costs of the pilot
103	103	program and whether the pilot program may lead to savings;
104	104	(5) a method of determining which persons would be
105	105	eligible to participate in the pilot program; and
106	106	(6) which Medicaid waiver programs are appropriate to
107	107	the pilot program and whether new Medicaid waiver programs may be
108	108	required.
109	109	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
110	110	______________________________ ______________________________
111	111	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
112	112	I certify that H.B. No. 1574 was passed by the House on April
113	113	22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
114	114	voting.
115	115	______________________________
116	116	Chief Clerk of the House
117	117	I certify that H.B. No. 1574 was passed by the Senate on May
118	118	14, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
119	119	______________________________
120	120	Secretary of the Senate
121	121	APPROVED: _____________________
122	122	Date
123	123	_____________________
124	124	Governor