H.B. No. 793
AN ACT
relating to the selection and reimbursement of certain persons
providing services required under a service plan filed by the
Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 263, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 263.1021 to read as follows:
Sec. 263.1021. SELECTION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF SERVICE
PROVIDER. (a) A parent who is required to complete a service plan
under this subchapter may obtain services from a qualified or
licensed provider selected by the parent.
(b) Services obtained from a provider selected under
Subsection (a):
(1) must be designed to achieve the stated goals of the
service plan; and
(2) may be provided through an electronic
communication platform.
(c) A service provider selected by a parent shall certify in
writing whether the parent has satisfactorily completed the
required service.
(d) The department shall reimburse a service provider
selected by the parent under Subsection (a) who is not under
contract with the department in an amount equal to the average cost
for the specific service from department contractors providing the
service in the region where the parent resides.
(e) The department shall:
(1) adopt rules relating to the manner in which
providers are reimbursed for services provided under this section;
and
(2) implement this section using existing resources.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Department
of Family and Protective Services shall adopt the rules required by
Section 263.1021(e), Family Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a suit filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services on
or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed by the
department before that date is governed by the law in effect on the
date the suit was filed, and the former law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 793 was passed by the House on April
11, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 793 was passed by the Senate on May 9,
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor