By: Rose H.B. No. 4571
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the statewide intellectual and developmental
disabilities coordinating council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter M-2 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER M-2. STATEWIDE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES COORDINATING COUNCIL
Sec. 531.491. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council"
means the statewide intellectual and developmental disabilities
coordinating council.
Sec. 531.492. PURPOSE. The council is established to
ensure a strategic statewide approach to intellectual and
developmental disabilities services.
Sec. 531.493. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. (a) The council is
composed of the following members:
(1) subject to Subsection (b), one or more
representatives designated by each of the following entities:
(A) the Department of State Health Services;
(B) the Department of Family and Protective
Services;
(C) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(D) the Texas Education Agency;
(E) the Texas Center for Disability Studies at
The University of Texas at Austin;
(F) the Center on Disability and Development at
Texas A&M University;
(G) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
(H) the Commission on Jail Standards; and
(2) the following members appointed by the executive
commissioner:
(A) a representative of a local intellectual and
developmental disability authority as defined by Section 531.002,
Health and Safety Code;
(B) a representative of the Governor's Committee
on People with Disabilities;
(C) a representative of the Texas Council for
Developmental Disabilities;
(D) a representative of the Arc of Texas;
(E) a representative of a managed care
organization;
(F) a provider of Medicaid long-term services and
supports;
(G) a person or family member of an individual
with an intellectual or developmental disability;
(H) a representative of the commission's office
of the ombudsman;
(I) representatives of the commission, with one
representative appointed from each division of the commission with
responsibility for:
(i) Medicaid and the State Children's
Health Insurance Program services;
(ii) intellectual and developmental
disability behavioral health services;
(iii) health and specialty care system
employment;
(iv) health, developmental, and
independence services; and
(v) access and eligibility services; and
(J) additional members as needed who are
recognized experts serving individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities or who represent the interests of
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
(b) The executive commissioner shall determine the number
of representatives that each entity may designate under Subsection
(a)(1) to serve on the council.
(c) The council may authorize another state agency or
institution that provides specific intellectual and developmental
disabilities services with the use of appropriated money to
designate a representative to the council.
(d) A council member serves at the pleasure of the
designating entity.
Sec. 531.494. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive
commissioner shall designate a member of the council to serve as the
presiding officer.
Sec. 531.495. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
once quarterly or more frequently at the call of the presiding
officer.
Sec. 531.496. POWERS AND DUTIES. The council:
(1) shall develop and monitor the implementation of a
five-year statewide intellectual and developmental disabilities
strategic plan;
(2) shall develop a biennial coordinated statewide
intellectual and developmental disabilities expenditure proposal;
(3) shall annually publish an updated inventory of
state-funded intellectual and developmental disability programs
and services that includes:
(A) a description of how those programs and
services further the purpose of the statewide intellectual and
developmental disabilities strategic plan; and
(B) an estimate of the number of individuals
waiting for or interested in receiving those programs and services;
and
(4) may facilitate opportunities to increase
collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal
and state funds for intellectual and developmental disability
services in this state.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.