By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 45
(Naishtat)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of employment assistance and supported
employment to certain Medicaid waiver program participants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.075 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.075. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTED
EMPLOYMENT. (a) In this section:
(1) "Employment assistance" means assistance provided
to an individual to help the individual locate paid employment in
the community. Employment assistance includes:
(A) identifying an individual's employment
preferences, job skills, and requirements for a work setting and
work conditions;
(B) locating prospective employers offering
employment compatible with an individual's identified preferences,
skills, and requirements; and
(C) contacting a prospective employer on behalf
of an individual and negotiating the individual's employment.
(2) "Supported employment" means assistance provided,
in order to sustain paid employment, to an individual who, because
of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be
self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting at which
individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported
employment includes adaptations, supervision, and training related
to an individual's diagnosis.
(b) This section applies only to the following medical
assistance waiver programs:
(1) the community based alternatives program;
(2) the community living assistance and support
services program;
(3) the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities
program;
(4) the home and community-based services program;
(5) the medically dependent children program;
(6) the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program;
(7) the Texas home living program; and
(8) the youth empowerment services program.
(c) The department shall provide employment assistance and
supported employment to participants in the waiver programs
identified in Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of
this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for
any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement this Act.
The commission may delay implementing this Act until the waiver or
authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.