Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB1905 Compare Versions

The same version is selected twice. Please select two different versions to compare.

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R18049 GCB-D
2	2	By: Guillen, Naishtat, Lucio III, Flores, H.B. No. 1905
3	3	Leibowitz, et al.
4	4
5	5
6	6	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	7	AN ACT
8	8	relating to studying the costs and benefits of a pilot program for
9	9	services for adults with autism and other related disabilities with
10	10	similar support needs.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health
13	13	and Human Services Commission shall conduct a study to determine
14	14	the costs and benefits to this state of initiating a pilot program
15	15	to provide services to adult persons with autism and other related
16	16	disabilities with similar support needs.
17	17	(b) The study will determine the costs and benefits of a
18	18	pilot program based on a program designed to:
19	19	(1) encourage sustainable employment and community
20	20	integration through specialized supports coordination, case
21	21	management, vocational assessment, training, and support to
22	22	increase job skills and competitive employment opportunities;
23	23	(2) develop meaningful community-based activities for
24	24	persons for whom competitive employment is not a goal;
25	25	(3) promote continued individual development and
26	26	avoid regression;
27	27	(4) promote self-determination and independence;
28	28	(5) coordinate services and behavioral supports
29	29	across all areas of need; and
30	30	(6) allow for flexible funding and for a flexible
31	31	array of services to meet individual needs.
32	32	(c) In conducting the study, the executive commissioner of
33	33	the Health and Human Services Commission shall:
34	34	(1) define and describe a pilot program with a
35	35	seamless system of supports to provide:
36	36	(A) options for independent living, if
37	37	appropriate;
38	38	(B) community-based housing, if needed; and
39	39	(C) individualized supports, including:
40	40	(i) prevocational training;
41	41	(ii) employment training; and
42	42	(iii) leisure and recreational activities;
43	43	(2) research and analyze best practices and programs
44	44	from other states that may serve as pilot program models;
45	45	(3) consult with and solicit feedback from key
46	46	stakeholders, including advocacy organizations, potential service
47	47	recipients, and parents;
48	48	(4) address the barriers that may prevent adults with
49	49	autism or other related disabilities with similar support needs
50	50	from living in their local community including:
51	51	(A) housing needs and living arrangements;
52	52	(B) behavioral services;
53	53	(C) social and communication services and
54	54	supports;
55	55	(D) transportation issues; and
56	56	(E) health and medical care;
57	57	(5) identify the existence and cause of service gaps
58	58	in this state;
59	59	(6) develop recommendations and determine costs
60	60	associated with eliminating service gaps;
61	61	(7) identify the potential benefit to persons who
62	62	would receive services from the pilot program; and
63	63	(8) identify potential federal sources of funding for
64	64	a pilot program.
65	65	(d) Not later than September 1, 2010, the executive
66	66	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
67	67	submit a report of the findings and conclusions of the study to the
68	68	governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
69	69	representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing
70	70	committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary
71	71	jurisdiction over the provision of services to persons with
72	72	disabilities.
73	73	(e) The report required under Subsection (d) of this section
74	74	must include:
75	75	(1) a recommendation for the structure of a pilot
76	76	program;
77	77	(2) a recommendation on the choice of an appropriate
78	78	agency to design and administer a pilot program;
79	79	(3) an estimation of the number of persons who may
80	80	benefit from a pilot program if a program similar to the pilot
81	81	program were instituted statewide;
82	82	(4) an estimation of the potential costs of the pilot
83	83	program and whether the pilot program may lead to savings;
84	84	(5) a method of determining which persons would be
85	85	eligible to participate in the pilot program; and
86	86	(6) which Medicaid waiver programs are appropriate to
87	87	the pilot program and whether new Medicaid waiver programs may be
88	88	required.
89	89	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
90	90	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
91	91	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
92	92	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
93	93	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.