Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4696 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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1	1	H.B. No. 4696
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to the reporting and investigation of certain allegations
6	6	of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, the making and investigation
7	7	of complaints alleging violations of certain health facility
8	8	licensing requirements, and the content of the employee misconduct
9	9	registry.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 261.005, Family Code, is amended to read
12	12	as follows:
13	13	Sec. 261.005. REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR
14	14	COMMISSION. Unless otherwise provided by a provision of this
15	15	chapter, in [In] this chapter:
16	16	(1) a reference to the executive commissioner or the
17	17	executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
18	18	means the commissioner of the department; and
19	19	(2) a reference to the Health and Human Services
20	20	Commission means the department.
21	21	SECTION 2. Section 261.105(c-1), Family Code, is amended to
22	22	read as follows:
23	23	(c-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c), if a report
24	24	under this section relates to a child with an intellectual
25	25	disability receiving services in a state supported living center as
26	26	defined by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code, or the ICF-IID
27	27	component of the Rio Grande State Center, the department shall
28	28	immediately notify the commission and the commission shall proceed
29	29	with the investigation of the report as provided by Section
30	30	261.404. Notwithstanding Section 261.005, in this subsection,
31	31	"commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.
32	32	SECTION 3. Section 261.404, Family Code, is amended by
33	33	amending Subsections (a), (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), (b), (c), and (d)
34	34	and adding Subsection (a-4) to read as follows:
35	35	(a) Notwithstanding Section 261.005, in this section:
36	36	(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
37	37	Commission.
38	38	(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
39	39	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
40	40	(a-1) The commission [department] shall investigate a
41	41	report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child receiving
42	42	services from a provider, as those terms are defined by Section
43	43	48.251, Human Resources Code, or as otherwise defined by rule. The
44	44	commission [department] shall also investigate, under Subchapter
45	45	F, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, a report of abuse, neglect, or
46	46	exploitation of a child receiving services from an officer,
47	47	employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a home and
48	48	community support services agency licensed under Chapter 142,
49	49	Health and Safety Code, if the officer, employee, agent,
50	50	contractor, or subcontractor is or may be the person alleged to have
51	51	committed the abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
52	52	(a-2) [(a-1)] For an investigation of a child living in a
53	53	residence owned, operated, or controlled by a provider of services
54	54	under the home and community-based services waiver program
55	55	described by Section 534.001(11)(B), Government Code, the
56	56	department, in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 48, Human
57	57	Resources Code, may provide emergency protective services
58	58	necessary to immediately protect the child from serious physical
59	59	harm or death and, if necessary, obtain an emergency order for
60	60	protective services under Section 48.208, Human Resources Code.
61	61	(a-3) [(a-2)] For an investigation of a child living in a
62	62	residence owned, operated, or controlled by a provider of services
63	63	under the home and community-based services waiver program
64	64	described by Section 534.001(11)(B), Government Code, regardless
65	65	of whether the child is receiving services under that waiver
66	66	program from the provider, the department shall provide protective
67	67	services to the child in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 48,
68	68	Human Resources Code.
69	69	(a-4) [(a-3)] For purposes of this section, Subchapters E
70	70	and F, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, apply to an investigation
71	71	of a child and to the provision of protective services to that child
72	72	in the same manner those subchapters apply to an investigation of an
73	73	elderly person or person with a disability and the provision of
74	74	protective services to that person.
75	75	(b) The commission [department] shall investigate a [the]
76	76	report under this section under rules developed by the executive
77	77	commissioner.
78	78	(c) If a report under this section relates to a child with an
79	79	intellectual disability receiving services in a state supported
80	80	living center or the ICF-IID component of the Rio Grande State
81	81	Center, the commission [department] shall, within 24 hours [one
82	82	hour] of receiving the report, notify the facility in which the
83	83	child is receiving services of the allegations in the report.
84	84	(d) If, during the course of the commission's [department's]
85	85	investigation of reported abuse, neglect, or exploitation, a
86	86	caseworker of the commission [department] or the caseworker's
87	87	supervisor has cause to believe that a child with an intellectual
88	88	disability described by Subsection (c) has been abused, neglected,
89	89	or exploited by another person in a manner that constitutes a
90	90	criminal offense under any law, including Section 22.04, Penal
91	91	Code, the caseworker shall immediately notify the commission's
92	92	[Health and Human Services Commission's] office of inspector
93	93	general and promptly provide the commission's office of inspector
94	94	general with a copy of the commission's [department's]
95	95	investigation report.
96	96	SECTION 4. Section 142.009(j), Health and Safety Code, is
97	97	amended to read as follows:
98	98	(j) Except as provided by Subsections (h) and (l), a [an
99	99	on-site] survey may [must] be conducted within 18 months after a
100	100	survey for an initial license. After that time, an on-site survey
101	101	must be conducted at least every 36 months.
102	102	SECTION 5. Section 142.018(b), Health and Safety Code, is
103	103	amended to read as follows:
104	104	(b) A home and community support services agency that has
105	105	cause to believe that a person receiving services from the agency
106	106	has been abused, exploited, or neglected by an employee of the
107	107	agency shall report the information to[:
108	108	[(1)] the commission [department; and
109	109	[(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services
110	110	or other appropriate state agency as required by Section 48.051,
111	111	Human Resources Code].
112	112	SECTION 6. Section 252.039, Health and Safety Code, is
113	113	amended to read as follows:
114	114	Sec. 252.039. POSTING. Each facility shall prominently and
115	115	conspicuously post for display in a public area of the facility that
116	116	is readily available to residents, employees, and visitors:
117	117	(1) the license issued under this chapter;
118	118	(2) a sign prescribed by the commission [department]
119	119	that specifies complaint procedures established under this chapter
120	120	or rules adopted under this chapter and that specifies how
121	121	complaints may be registered with the commission [department];
122	122	(3) a notice in a form prescribed by the commission
123	123	[department] stating that inspection and related reports are
124	124	available at the facility for public inspection and providing the
125	125	commission's [department's] toll-free telephone number that may be
126	126	used to obtain information concerning the facility;
127	127	(4) a concise summary of the most recent inspection
128	128	report relating to the facility;
129	129	(5) a notice providing instructions for reporting an
130	130	allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the commission
131	131	[Department of Family and Protective Services]; and
132	132	(6) a notice that employees, other staff, residents,
133	133	volunteers, and family members and guardians of residents are
134	134	protected from discrimination or retaliation as provided by
135	135	Sections 252.132 and 252.133.
136	136	SECTION 7. Section 252.121(a), Health and Safety Code, is
137	137	amended to read as follows:
138	138	(a) A person, including an owner or employee of a facility,
139	139	who has cause to believe that a resident is being or has been
140	140	subjected to abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall report the
141	141	suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the commission
142	142	[Department of Family and Protective Services, as required by
143	143	Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, or Chapter 261, Family Code, as
144	144	appropriate]. The commission [Department of Family and Protective
145	145	Services] shall investigate the allegation of abuse, neglect, or
146	146	exploitation in the manner prescribed by the commission [provided
147	147	by Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, or Section 261.404, Family
148	148	Code, as applicable].
149	149	SECTION 8. Section 252.125, Health and Safety Code, is
150	150	amended to read as follows:
151	151	Sec. 252.125. IMMEDIATE REMOVAL TO PROTECT RESIDENT.
152	152	Before the completion of the investigation by the commission
153	153	[Department of Family and Protective Services], the commission
154	154	[department] shall file a petition for temporary care and
155	155	protection of a resident if the commission [department]
156	156	determines[, based on information provided to the department by the
157	157	Department of Family and Protective Services,] that immediate
158	158	removal is necessary to protect the resident from further abuse,
159	159	neglect, or exploitation.
160	160	SECTION 9. Sections 253.001(1) and (4), Health and Safety
161	161	Code, are amended to read as follows:
162	162	(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
163	163	Commission ["Commissioner" means the commissioner of aging and
164	164	disability services].
165	165	(4) "Facility" means:
166	166	(A) a nursing facility[:
167	167	[(i)] licensed by the commission under
168	168	Chapter 242 [department]; [or]
169	169	(B) an intermediate care facility for
170	170	individuals with an intellectual disability [(ii)] licensed by the
171	171	commission under Chapter 252;
172	172	(C) [(B)] an adult foster care provider that
173	173	contracts with the commission [department];
174	174	(D) [(C)] a home and community support services
175	175	agency licensed by the commission [department] under Chapter 142;
176	176	[or]
177	177	(E) [(D)] a prescribed pediatric extended care
178	178	center licensed by the commission under Chapter 248A;
179	179	(F) an assisted living facility licensed by the
180	180	commission under Chapter 247;
181	181	(G) a day activity and health services facility
182	182	licensed by the commission under Chapter 103, Human Resources Code;
183	183	(H) a residential child-care facility as defined
184	184	by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code, at which an elderly person
185	185	or an adult with a disability resides or is in the facility's care;
186	186	(I) a provider who provides home and
187	187	community-based services under the home and community-based
188	188	services (HCS) waiver program or the Texas home living (TxHmL)
189	189	waiver program; or
190	190	(J) a facility that is exempt from licensure
191	191	under Section 252.003.
192	192	SECTION 10. Section 260A.001, Health and Safety Code, is
193	193	amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
194	194	(1-a) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
195	195	Commission.
196	196	SECTION 11. Section 260A.002, Health and Safety Code, is
197	197	amended by amending Subsections (a-1) and (c) and adding Subsection
198	198	(d) to read as follows:
199	199	(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
200	200	a report made under this section that a provider is or may be
201	201	alleged to have committed abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a
202	202	resident of a facility other than a prescribed pediatric extended
203	203	care center shall be investigated by the commission [Department of
204	204	Family and Protective Services] in accordance with Subchapter F,
205	205	Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, and this chapter does not apply to
206	206	that investigation. In this subsection, "facility" and "provider"
207	207	have the meanings assigned by Section 48.251, Human Resources Code.
208	208	(c) A person shall make an oral or electronic report
209	209	immediately on learning of the abuse, neglect, or exploitation [and
210	210	shall make a written report to the department not later than the
211	211	fifth day after the oral report is made].
212	212	(d) A facility or provider shall submit a provider
213	213	investigation report to the commission not later than the fifth day
214	214	after the date the facility or provider makes the oral or electronic
215	215	report under Subsection (c).
216	216	SECTION 12. Section 260A.007, Health and Safety Code, is
217	217	amended by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to
218	218	read as follows:
219	219	(e) In investigating the report of abuse, neglect,
220	220	exploitation, or other complaint, the investigator for the
221	221	commission [department] shall:
222	222	(1) conduct [make] an unannounced investigation
223	223	[visit to the facility] to determine the nature and cause of the
224	224	alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the resident;
225	225	(2) interview each available witness, including the
226	226	resident who suffered the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation
227	227	if the resident is able to communicate or another resident or other
228	228	witness identified by any source as having personal knowledge
229	229	relevant to the report of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other
230	230	complaint;
231	231	(3) [personally] inspect any physical circumstance
232	232	that is relevant and material to the report of abuse, neglect,
233	233	exploitation, or other complaint and that may be objectively
234	234	observed;
235	235	(4) if an on-site investigation is conducted, make a
236	236	photographic record of any injury to a resident, subject to
237	237	Subsection (n);
238	238	(5) write an investigation report that includes:
239	239	(A) the investigator's personal observations;
240	240	(B) a review of relevant documents and records;
241	241	(C) a summary of each witness statement,
242	242	including the statement of the resident that suffered the alleged
243	243	abuse, neglect, or exploitation and any other resident interviewed
244	244	in the investigation; and
245	245	(D) a statement of the factual basis for the
246	246	findings for each incident or problem alleged in the report or other
247	247	allegation; and
248	248	(6) for a resident of an institution or assisted
249	249	living facility, inspect any court order appointing a guardian of
250	250	the resident who was the subject of the alleged abuse, neglect, or
251	251	exploitation that is maintained in the resident's medical records
252	252	under Section 242.019 or 247.070.
253	253	(e-1) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (e),
254	254	the commission shall make an unannounced visit to a facility to
255	255	conduct an investigation of abuse or neglect.
256	256	SECTION 13. Section 48.0021, Human Resources Code, is
257	257	amended to read as follows:
258	258	Sec. 48.0021. REFERENCE TO COMMISSION OR EXECUTIVE
259	259	COMMISSIONER. Unless otherwise provided by a provision of this
260	260	chapter, in [In] this chapter:
261	261	(1) a reference to the Health and Human Services
262	262	Commission means the Department of Family and Protective Services;
263	263	and
264	264	(2) a reference to the executive commissioner means
265	265	the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective
266	266	Services.
267	267	SECTION 14. Section 48.051, Human Resources Code, is
268	268	amended by adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (c) to
269	269	read as follows:
270	270	(b-1) This subsection applies only to a provider under the
271	271	home and community-based services (HCS) waiver program or the Texas
272	272	home living (TxHmL) waiver program, an intermediate care facility
273	273	licensed under Chapter 252, Health and Safety Code, a state
274	274	supported living center as defined by Section 531.002, Health and
275	275	Safety Code, or a home and community support services agency
276	276	licensed under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code. Except as
277	277	provided by Subsections (a) and (b), a person, including an
278	278	officer, employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a
279	279	facility or provider subject to this subsection, having cause to
280	280	believe that an individual receiving services from the facility or
281	281	provider is in the state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall
282	282	immediately report to the commission the information required by
283	283	Subsection (d). Notwithstanding Section 48.0021, in this
284	284	subsection "commission" means the Health and Human Services
285	285	Commission.
286	286	(c) The duty imposed by Subsections (a), (b), and (b-1)
287	287	[(b)] applies without exception to a person whose knowledge
288	288	concerning possible abuse, neglect, or exploitation is obtained
289	289	during the scope of the person's employment or whose professional
290	290	communications are generally confidential, including an attorney,
291	291	clergy member, medical practitioner, social worker, employee or
292	292	member of a board that licenses or certifies a professional, and
293	293	mental health professional.
294	294	SECTION 15. Section 48.251(a), Human Resources Code, is
295	295	amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (2-a) and amending
296	296	Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
297	297	(1-a) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
298	298	Commission, notwithstanding Section 48.0021.
299	299	(2-a) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
300	300	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission,
301	301	notwithstanding Section 48.0021.
302	302	(3) "Facility" means:
303	303	(A) a facility listed in Section 532.001(b) or
304	304	532A.001(b), Health and Safety Code, [including community services
305	305	operated by the Department of State Health Services or Department
306	306	of Aging and Disability Services,] as described by those sections,
307	307	or a person contracting with a health and human services agency to
308	308	provide inpatient mental health services; [and]
309	309	(B) a facility licensed under Chapter 252, Health
310	310	and Safety Code;
311	311	(C) a residential child-care facility as defined
312	312	by Section 42.002 at which an elderly person or an adult with a
313	313	disability resides or is in the facility's care; and
314	314	(D) a home and community support services agency
315	315	licensed under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code.
316	316	SECTION 16. Sections 48.252(b) and (c), Human Resources
317	317	Code, are amended to read as follows:
318	318	(b) The department may not investigate under this
319	319	subchapter reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation alleged or
320	320	suspected to have been committed by a provider that is operated,
321	321	licensed, certified, or registered by a state agency that has
322	322	authority under this chapter or other law to investigate reports of
323	323	abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an individual by the provider.
324	324	The department shall forward any report of abuse, neglect, or
325	325	exploitation alleged or suspected to have been committed by a
326	326	provider described by this subsection to the commission
327	327	[appropriate state agency] for investigation.
328	328	(c) The commission [department] shall receive and
329	329	investigate under this subchapter reports of abuse, neglect, or
330	330	exploitation of:
331	331	(1) an individual who lives in a residence that is
332	332	owned, operated, or controlled by a provider who provides home and
333	333	community-based services under the home and community-based
334	334	services waiver program described by Section 534.001(11)(B),
335	335	Government Code, regardless of whether the individual is receiving
336	336	services under that waiver program from the provider; and
337	337	(2) an elderly person or an adult with a disability who
338	338	lives in or is in the care of a residential child-care facility as
339	339	defined by Section 42.002.
340	340	SECTION 17. Sections 48.253(a), (b), and (c), Human
341	341	Resources Code, are amended to read as follows:
342	342	(a) On receipt by the commission [department] of a report of
343	343	alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation under this subchapter, the
344	344	commission [department] shall initiate a prompt and thorough
345	345	investigation as needed to evaluate the accuracy of the report and
346	346	to assess the need for emergency protective services, unless the
347	347	commission [department], in accordance with rules adopted under
348	348	this subchapter, determines that the report:
349	349	(1) is frivolous or patently without a factual basis;
350	350	or
351	351	(2) does not concern abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
352	352	(b) After receiving a report that alleges that a provider is
353	353	or may be the person who committed the alleged abuse, neglect, or
354	354	exploitation, the commission [department] shall notify the
355	355	provider [and the appropriate health and human services agency] in
356	356	accordance with rules adopted by the executive commissioner.
357	357	(c) The provider identified under Subsection (b) shall:
358	358	(1) cooperate completely with an investigation
359	359	conducted under this subchapter; and
360	360	(2) provide the commission [department] complete
361	361	access during an investigation to:
362	362	(A) all sites owned, operated, or controlled by
363	363	the provider; and
364	364	(B) clients and client records.
365	365	SECTION 18. Sections 48.254(a) and (c), Human Resources
366	366	Code, are amended to read as follows:
367	367	(a) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish
368	368	procedures for the commission [department] to use to forward a copy
369	369	of the initial intake report and a copy of the completed provider
370	370	investigation report relating to alleged or suspected abuse,
371	371	neglect, or exploitation to the appropriate provider [and health
372	372	and human services agency].
373	373	(c) A provider that receives the findings of an [a
374	374	completed] investigation from the commission report under
375	375	Subsection (a) shall forward the findings [report] to the managed
376	376	care organization with which the provider contracts for services
377	377	for the alleged victim.
378	378	SECTION 19. Sections 48.255(a) and (b), Human Resources
379	379	Code, are amended to read as follows:
380	380	(a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to:
381	381	(1) prioritize investigations conducted under this
382	382	subchapter with the primary criterion being whether there is a risk
383	383	that a delay in the investigation will impede the collection of
384	384	evidence in that investigation; and
385	385	(2) [establish procedures for resolving disagreements
386	386	between the department and health and human services agencies
387	387	concerning the department's investigation findings; and
388	388	[(3)] provide for an appeals process by the commission
389	389	[department] for the alleged victim of abuse, neglect, or
390	390	exploitation.
391	391	(b) A confirmed investigation finding by the commission
392	392	[department] may not be changed by the administrator of a facility,
393	393	a community center, a local mental health authority, or a local
394	394	intellectual and developmental disability authority.
395	395	SECTION 20. Sections 48.256(a), (b), and (c), Human
396	396	Resources Code, are amended to read as follows:
397	397	(a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules that
398	398	prescribe the appropriate manner in which [health and human
399	399	services agencies and] managed care organizations provide the
400	400	commission [department] with information necessary to facilitate
401	401	the:
402	402	(1) identification of individuals receiving services
403	403	from providers; and
404	404	(2) [to facilitate] notification of providers by the
405	405	commission [department].
406	406	(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules requiring
407	407	a provider to provide information [to the administering health and
408	408	human services agency] necessary to facilitate the:
409	409	(1) identification by the commission [department] of
410	410	individuals receiving services from providers; and
411	411	(2) [to facilitate] notification of providers by the
412	412	commission [department].
413	413	(c) A provider of home and community-based services under
414	414	the home and community-based services waiver program described by
415	415	Section 534.001(11)(B), Government Code, shall post in a
416	416	conspicuous location inside any residence owned, operated, or
417	417	controlled by the provider in which home and community-based waiver
418	418	services are provided, a sign that states:
419	419	(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the
420	420	provider;
421	421	(2) the effective date of the provider's contract with
422	422	the commission [applicable health and human services agency] to
423	423	provide home and community-based services; and
424	424	(3) the name of the legal entity that contracted with
425	425	the commission [applicable health and human services agency] to
426	426	provide those services.
427	427	SECTION 21. Sections 48.258(a) and (b), Human Resources
428	428	Code, are amended to read as follows:
429	429	(a) The commission [health and human services agencies]
430	430	shall[, at the direction of the executive commissioner, jointly]
431	431	develop and implement a system to track reports and investigations
432	432	under this subchapter.
433	433	(b) To facilitate implementation of the system, the
434	434	commission [health and human services agencies] shall use
435	435	appropriate methods of measuring the number and outcome of reports
436	436	and investigations under this subchapter.
437	437	SECTION 22. Section 103.008(b), Human Resources Code, is
438	438	amended to read as follows:
439	439	(b) Any person may request an inspection of a facility by
440	440	notifying the commission in writing of an alleged violation of a
441	441	licensing requirement. The complaint shall be as detailed as
442	442	possible and signed by the complainant. The commission shall:
443	443	(1) if the complaint alleges abuse, neglect, or
444	444	exploitation, perform an [on-site] inspection as soon as feasible
445	445	but not [no] later than the 14th day [30 days] after the date the
446	446	commission receives [receiving] the complaint, unless after an
447	447	investigation the complaint is found to be frivolous;[. The
448	448	commission shall respond to a complainant in writing.]
449	449	(2) if the complaint does not allege abuse, neglect,
450	450	or exploitation, investigate the complaint not later than the 45th
451	451	day after the date the commission receives the complaint;
452	452	(3) respond to a complainant in writing; and
453	453	(4) [The commission shall also] receive and
454	454	investigate anonymous complaints.
455	455	SECTION 23. The following provisions are repealed:
456	456	(1) Section 252.121(b), Health and Safety Code;
457	457	(2) Section 252.126(b), Health and Safety Code;
458	458	(3) Section 48.252(a), Human Resources Code; and
459	459	(4) Section 48.254(b), Human Resources Code.
460	460	SECTION 24. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
461	461	date of this Act, but not later than December 1, 2024, the
462	462	commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services
463	463	shall transfer any department funds and resources, including
464	464	information technology, documents, and personnel allocated for the
465	465	investigation of reports under Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Human
466	466	Resources Code, to the Health and Human Services Commission to
467	467	allow the commission to perform the functions described under
468	468	Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, as amended by this
469	469	Act.
470	470	(b) Notwithstanding the effective date of this Act, the
471	471	Health and Human Services Commission is not required to comply with
472	472	changes in law made by this Act until the transfer required by
473	473	Subsection (a) of this section is completed.
474	474	SECTION 25. If before implementing any provision of this
475	475	Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
476	476	federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
477	477	the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
478	478	authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
479	479	waiver or authorization is granted.
480	480	SECTION 26. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
481	481	______________________________ ______________________________
482	482	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
483	483	I certify that H.B. No. 4696 was passed by the House on May 2,
484	484	2023, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, 1 present, not
485	485	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
486	486	No. 4696 on May 26, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 0,
487	487	1 present, not voting.
488	488	______________________________
489	489	Chief Clerk of the House
490	490	I certify that H.B. No. 4696 was passed by the Senate, with
491	491	amendments, on May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
492	492	0.
493	493	______________________________
494	494	Secretary of the Senate
495	495	APPROVED: __________________
496	496	Date
497	497	__________________
498	498	Governor