81R159 CLG-F
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 50
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the lifespan respite services pilot
program.
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. LIFESPAN RESPITE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
In this section, "respite services" means support services,
including in-home services, adult day-care services, and
facility-based services, that are provided for the purpose of
temporarily giving relief to a primary caregiver who provides
ongoing care to an individual with a chronic illness or disability.
(b) The department shall develop and implement the lifespan
respite services pilot program to promote the provision of respite
services. As part of the pilot program, the department shall
contract with community-based organizations or local governmental
entities selected by the department to provide respite services or
to facilitate access to local respite services. A contract may be
awarded under this subsection only after the department issues a
request for proposals regarding the contract.
(c) A community-based organization or local governmental
entity that receives a contract under this section to facilitate
access to local respite services may:
(1) recruit and train respite services providers;
(2) maintain a registry of respite services providers;
(3) connect caregivers with available respite
services providers or programs;
(4) identify, coordinate, and develop community
resources for respite services;
(5) build local partnerships with respect to respite
services;
(6) implement public awareness activities regarding
respite services; and
(7) subject to the availability of funds, provide
vouchers for respite services to eligible primary caregivers who
are not eligible for respite services provided through other
programs.
(d) In implementing the pilot program, the department
shall:
(1) provide technical assistance to community-based
organizations and local governmental entities that receive a
contract under this section;
(2) provide policy and program development support for
organizations and entities described by Subdivision (1);
(3) monitor the activities for which the department
contracts under this section; and
(4) select the areas of this state in which to
implement the pilot program.
(e) In developing the pilot program, the department shall
review similar initiatives in other states.
(f) This section expires September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2010, the Department
of Aging and Disability Services, in consultation with the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission,
shall submit a report to the governor and the Legislative Budget
Board regarding the lifespan respite services pilot program
established under Section 161.076, Human Resources Code, as added
by this Act. The report must include an evaluation of the effect of
the pilot program on:
(1) access to respite services by primary caregivers
of persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities; and
(2) Medicaid expenditures for long-term care services
provided in institutional care settings.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.