| 1 | 1 | | By: Meza H.B. No. 4481 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver |
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| 7 | 7 | | program. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 531.09731 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 531.09731. MINIMUM REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR CERTAIN |
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| 12 | 12 | | PROVIDERS UNDER DEAF-BLIND WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES WAIVER |
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| 13 | 13 | | PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish minimum |
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| 14 | 14 | | reimbursement rates for interveners and orientation and mobility |
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| 15 | 15 | | specialists providing services under the deaf-blind with multiple |
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| 16 | 16 | | disabilities waiver program. The rates established under this |
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| 17 | 17 | | section must: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) take into account the provider's level of |
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| 19 | 19 | | training, education, and experience; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) be adjusted annually for inflation. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. Section 161.078, Human Resources Code, is |
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| 22 | 22 | | amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (c) The executive commissioner shall increase the number of |
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| 24 | 24 | | persons receiving home-based and community-based services under |
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| 25 | 25 | | the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program by: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (1) 50 for each of the state fiscal years ending August |
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| 27 | 27 | | 31, 2020, and August 31, 2021; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) for each subsequent state fiscal year beginning |
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| 29 | 29 | | with the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, 10 percent of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | number of recipients on the interest list for home-based and |
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| 31 | 31 | | community-based services under the deaf-blind with multiple |
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| 32 | 32 | | disabilities waiver program as determined on the first day of the |
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| 33 | 33 | | applicable state fiscal year and rounded to the nearest whole |
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| 34 | 34 | | number. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 36 | 36 | | of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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| 37 | 37 | | Services Commission shall adopt the rules required under Section |
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| 38 | 38 | | 531.09731, Government Code, as added by this Act, and ensure that |
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| 39 | 39 | | the minimum reimbursement rates established for interveners and |
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| 40 | 40 | | orientation and mobility specialists under the deaf-blind with |
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| 41 | 41 | | multiple disabilities waiver program are based on the most recent |
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| 42 | 42 | | full rate analysis conducted by the commission. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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| 44 | 44 | | a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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| 45 | 45 | | federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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| 46 | 46 | | the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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| 47 | 47 | | authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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| 48 | 48 | | waiver or authorization is granted. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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