86R1874 MM-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 47
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force on ensuring an
appropriate care setting for a person with a disability.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.02441 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.02441. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON ENSURING
APPROPRIATE CARE SETTINGS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The
executive commissioner shall establish an interagency task force to
assist the commission and appropriate health and human services
agencies in developing a comprehensive, effectively working plan to
ensure appropriate care settings for persons with disabilities.
(b) The executive commissioner shall determine the number
of members of the task force. The executive commissioner shall
appoint as members of the task force:
(1) representatives of appropriate health and human
services agencies;
(2) representatives of related work groups;
(3) representatives of consumer and family advocacy
groups; and
(4) representatives of service providers for persons
with disabilities.
(c) The executive commissioner shall designate a member of
the task force to serve as presiding officer. The members of the
task force shall elect any other necessary officers.
(d) The task force shall meet at the call of the executive
commissioner.
(e) A member of the task force serves at the will of the
executive commissioner.
(f) A member of the task force may not receive compensation
for serving on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
business of the task force as provided by the General
Appropriations Act.
(g) The task force shall study and make recommendations to
the commission on developing the comprehensive, effectively
working plan required by Section 531.0244(a) to ensure appropriate
care settings for persons with disabilities.
(h) In addition to making recommendations under Subsection
(g), the task force shall advise the commission and appropriate
health and human services agencies with respect to implementing the
comprehensive, effectively working plan required by Section
531.0244(a), giving primary consideration to:
(1) methods to identify and assess each person who
resides in an institution but chooses to live in the community and
for whom a transfer from an institution to the community is
appropriate, as determined by the person's treating professionals;
(2) determining the health and human services
agencies' availability of community care and support options
relating to all persons described by Subdivision (1);
(3) identifying, addressing, and monitoring barriers
to implementation of the plan to improve that implementation; and
(4) identifying funding options for the plan.
(i) Not later than September 1 of each year, the task force
shall submit a report to the executive commissioner on its findings
and recommendations required by Subsection (g).
(j) The task force is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2019, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
establish the interagency task force under Section 531.02441,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.