| 1 | 1 | | 88R3343 AMF-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Meza H.B. No. 788 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a task force to study access to legal services for |
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| 8 | 8 | | persons with disabilities. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. TASK FORCE. (a) In this section: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, |
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| 12 | 12 | | a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least |
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| 13 | 13 | | one major life activity of that individual. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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| 15 | 15 | | commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (3) "Task force" means the task force established by |
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| 17 | 17 | | this section. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force |
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| 19 | 19 | | to study access to legal services for persons with disabilities. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) The task force is composed of seven members as follows: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) five members appointed by the executive |
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| 22 | 22 | | commissioner, including: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (A) at least two members who are adults with |
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| 24 | 24 | | disabilities; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) at least two members who are parents of |
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| 26 | 26 | | children with disabilities; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) two members who represent Disability Rights Texas. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (d) The executive commissioner shall designate a task force |
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| 29 | 29 | | member as the presiding officer of the task force. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
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| 31 | 31 | | of the presiding officer and at other times the presiding officer |
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| 32 | 32 | | determines. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (f) The task force shall study access to legal services for |
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| 34 | 34 | | persons with disabilities. The study must examine and make |
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| 35 | 35 | | recommendations regarding: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) the availability of legal representation for |
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| 37 | 37 | | persons with disabilities; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) the availability of advocacy and legal services |
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| 39 | 39 | | for persons with disabilities; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (3) the barriers to accessing legal services for |
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| 41 | 41 | | persons with disabilities, including communication, financial, |
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| 42 | 42 | | medical, and cognitive barriers. |
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| 43 | 43 | | (g) The task force shall develop and submit a written report |
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| 44 | 44 | | of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the |
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| 45 | 45 | | Health and Human Services Commission, the governor, the lieutenant |
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| 46 | 46 | | governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each |
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| 47 | 47 | | member of the legislature not later than December 1, 2024. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (h) The task force may develop instructional and training |
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| 49 | 49 | | materials for legal professionals and persons with disabilities |
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| 50 | 50 | | relating to legal issues affecting persons with disabilities. |
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| 51 | 51 | | (i) The task force may partner with or seek and accept |
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| 52 | 52 | | assistance from voluntary organizations active in supporting |
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| 53 | 53 | | persons with disabilities. |
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| 54 | 54 | | (j) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1, |
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| 55 | 55 | | 2025. |
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| 56 | 56 | | SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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| 57 | 57 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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| 58 | 58 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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| 59 | 59 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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| 60 | 60 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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