81R348 KFF-D
By: Naishtat H.B. No. 166
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to providing home- and community-based support services
under the Medicaid program to persons who are deaf-blind with
multiple disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 161.076 to read as follows:
Sec. 161.076. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEAF-BLIND WITH MULTIPLE
DISABILITIES WAIVER PROGRAM. (a) Subject to the availability of
funds appropriated for that purpose, the department shall provide
home- and community-based services under the deaf-blind with
multiple disabilities waiver program without regard to a person's
age if the person applies for and is otherwise eligible to receive
services under the waiver program.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prevent the department from
establishing an age requirement with respect to other programs or
services offered to persons who are deaf-blind and have multiple
disabilities, including the summer outdoor training program for
deaf-blind multihandicapped individuals established under Section
22.036(c).
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall apply for and actively pursue an
amendment to this state's deaf-blind with multiple disabilities
waiver under Section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Section 1396n(c)) or other authorization from the federal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or any other federal
agency to implement Section 161.076, Human Resources Code, as added
by this Act, with respect to persons who are younger than 18 years
of age. The Department of Aging and Disability Services may delay
implementing Section 161.076, Human Resources Code, as added by
this Act, until the amendment or other authorization applied for
under this section is granted.
SECTION 3. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement Section
161.076, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, as soon as
possible after obtaining the amendment or other authorization
required by Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.