By: King of Taylor H.B. No. 3971
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of notice by the Department of Aging and
Disability Services to neighborhoods in which certain group homes
are located to protect the safety of the residents of those group
homes.
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 161.089 to read as follows:
Sec. 161.089. NOTICE REGARDING GROUP HOMES. (a) The
purpose of this section is to protect the safety of residents of
group homes and the neighborhoods in which those group homes are
located.
(b) For purposes of this section, "group home" means:
(1) a residence in which residential support or
supervised living is provided through the Home and Community-based
Services waiver program; or
(2) a residence in which fewer than seven persons
reside and in which services are provided through the intermediate
care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or
related condition program.
(c) In accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section 3604(f)(9), the
commission and the department shall collaborate with advocacy
groups for persons with disabilities to develop, and the executive
commissioner shall by rule to establish, a process for the
department to provide notice about the presence of a group home to
the neighborhood in which the group home is located if:
(1) law enforcement officers have responded to
multiple emergencies at the group home;
(2) multiple emergencies or crises have been
documented at the group home;
(3) elopements have occurred from the group home; or
(4) the department has otherwise determined that
notice is required to protect the safety of the residents of the
group home or the neighborhood in which the group home is located.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.