86R14151 JG-F
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1790
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to peer specialists and the provision of peer services to
individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 531.0999(a) and (b), Government Code,
as added by Chapter 1015 (H.B. 1486), Acts of the 85th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2017, are amended to read as follows:
(a) With input from mental health, intellectual or
developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists and
the work group described by Subsection (b), the commission shall
develop and the executive commissioner shall adopt:
(1) rules that establish training requirements for
peer specialists so that they are able to provide services to
persons with a mental illness or intellectual or developmental
disability or services to persons with substance use conditions;
(2) rules that establish certification and
supervision requirements for peer specialists;
(3) rules that define the scope of services that peer
specialists may provide;
(4) rules that distinguish peer services from other
services that a person must hold a license to provide; and
(5) any other rules necessary to protect the health
and safety of persons receiving peer services.
(b) The commission shall establish a stakeholder work group
to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection
(a). The work group is composed of the following stakeholders
appointed by the executive commissioner:
(1) one representative of each organization that
certifies mental health, intellectual or developmental disability,
and substance use peer specialists in this state;
(2) three representatives of organizations that
employ mental health, intellectual or developmental disability,
and substance use peer specialists;
(3) one mental health peer specialist who works in an
urban area;
(4) one mental health peer specialist who works in a
rural area;
(5) one intellectual or developmental disability peer
specialist who works in an urban area;
(6) one intellectual or developmental disability peer
specialist who works in a rural area;
(7) one substance use peer specialist who works in an
urban area;
(8) [(6)] one substance use peer specialist who works
in a rural area;
(9) [(7)] one person who trains mental health peer
specialists;
(10) one person who trains intellectual or
developmental disability peer specialists;
(11) [(8)] one person who trains substance use peer
specialists;
(12) [(9)] three representatives of mental health and
addiction licensed health care professional groups who supervise
mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and
substance use peer specialists;
(13) [(10)] to the extent possible, not more than
three persons with personal experience recovering from mental
illness, substance use conditions, or co-occurring mental illness
and substance use conditions or with personal experience living
with an intellectual or developmental disability; and
(14) [(11)] any other persons considered appropriate
by the executive commissioner.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the
changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.