87R6908 JG-D
By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 1413
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption of rules regarding the provision of peer
support services to persons older than a certain age and the
provision of those services under Medicaid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 531.0999(a), Government Code, as added
by Chapter 1015 (H.B. 1486), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(a) With input from mental health 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 mental illness 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) rules that authorize the provision of peer
services by a peer specialist to persons who are 14 years of age or
older; and
(6) any other rules necessary to protect the health
and safety of persons receiving peer services.
SECTION 2. Section 32.024(kk), Human Resources Code, as
added by Chapter 1015 (H.B. 1486), Acts of the 85th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(kk) The commission in its rules and standards governing the
scope of services provided under the medical assistance program
shall include peer services provided by certified peer specialists,
including peer services provided to persons who are 14 years of age
or older, to the extent permitted by federal law.
SECTION 3. 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 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.