BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2542 By: Kitzman Human Services Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the Texas Statewide Intellectual and Development Disabilities Strategic Plan, individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) experience distinct, lifelong needs. The strategic plan reports that Texas, along with the rest of the country, has made significant progress in shifting its publicly funded systems away from reliance on large-scale institutions and toward services to support people with an IDD to live at home or in small, community-based settings. However, the bill author has informed the committee that stakeholders are still identifying gaps in the continuum of care, including interactions with law enforcement, child and adult protective services, hospital emergency departments, and requests for services in institutional settings. H.B. 2542 seeks to address this issue by establishing a work group of inter-agency representatives, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to conduct a study and make recommendations to address gaps in access to acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than October 1, 2025, to establish a work group to conduct a study and make recommendations on the specialized services needed by individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in Texas, including individuals with mental health conditions or other high behavioral needs. H.B. 2542 establishes the composition of the work group as follows: one or more representatives designated by each of the following entities, with the executive commissioner of HHSC determining the number of representatives that each entity may designate: o the Department of State Health Services; o the Department of Family and Protective Services; o the Texas Workforce Commission; o the Texas Education Agency; o the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin; o the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University; o the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and o the Texas Commission on Jail Standards; and the following members appointed by the executive commissioner: o a representative of a local intellectual and developmental disability authority; o a representative of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities; o a representative of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities; o a representative of the Arc of Texas; o a representative of a managed care organization; o a Medicaid long-term services and supports provider; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD receiving home and community-based services, including under the home and community-based services waiver program; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a licensed private intermediate care facility for such; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a state supported living center; o a representative of HHSC's office of the ombudsman; o representatives of HHSC, with one representative appointed from each division of HHSC with responsibility for: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); intellectual and developmental disability behavioral health services; health and specialty care system employment; health, developmental, and independence services; and access and eligibility services; o a physician; and o any additional members as the executive commissioner determines appropriate who are recognized experts serving individuals with an IDD or who represent the interests of individuals with an IDD. H.B. 2542 requires the work group, in conducting the study, to evaluate and identify the following topics related to services needed by individuals with an IDD, as applicable: the accessibility of existing services and resources in Texas, including public and private programs; the quality of existing services provided in Texas, including the effectiveness of programs designed to promote health, education, employment, and community inclusion; factors that contribute to mental health conditions, including the impact of trauma; gaps in the availability of services, including access to services to address needs of individuals with a co-occurring mental health condition; the adequacy of funding for acute and long-term care services and supports, including the financial sustainability of existing service delivery models; the availability and capacity of trained professionals who provide needed services; public safety net services, including the scope of local intellectual and developmental disability authorities to coordinate services and meet needs; the status of interest lists for services or programs, including the average wait time; best practices and innovative models used in and outside of Texas, including the potential for implementing or expanding on those practices and models; and stakeholder input, including input from affected individuals and their families, caregivers, advocacy groups, and service providers. H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner, not later than December 1, 2025, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over intellectual and developmental disability issues, a written report that includes the following: a summary of the work group's findings based on the results of the study conducted under the bill's provisions; recommendations to address gaps in access to, and challenges in the provision of, acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD; recommendations for improving funding models, service delivery systems, and workforce development strategies in relation to the provision of services to individuals with an IDD; recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including legislation or rules, to implement the work group's recommendations; and suggested timelines for implementing the work group's recommendations. The bill's provisions expire and the work group is abolished December 31, 2026. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2542
By: Kitzman
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2542
By: Kitzman
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the Texas Statewide Intellectual and Development Disabilities Strategic Plan, individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) experience distinct, lifelong needs. The strategic plan reports that Texas, along with the rest of the country, has made significant progress in shifting its publicly funded systems away from reliance on large-scale institutions and toward services to support people with an IDD to live at home or in small, community-based settings. However, the bill author has informed the committee that stakeholders are still identifying gaps in the continuum of care, including interactions with law enforcement, child and adult protective services, hospital emergency departments, and requests for services in institutional settings. H.B. 2542 seeks to address this issue by establishing a work group of inter-agency representatives, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to conduct a study and make recommendations to address gaps in access to acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than October 1, 2025, to establish a work group to conduct a study and make recommendations on the specialized services needed by individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in Texas, including individuals with mental health conditions or other high behavioral needs. H.B. 2542 establishes the composition of the work group as follows: one or more representatives designated by each of the following entities, with the executive commissioner of HHSC determining the number of representatives that each entity may designate: o the Department of State Health Services; o the Department of Family and Protective Services; o the Texas Workforce Commission; o the Texas Education Agency; o the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin; o the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University; o the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and o the Texas Commission on Jail Standards; and the following members appointed by the executive commissioner: o a representative of a local intellectual and developmental disability authority; o a representative of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities; o a representative of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities; o a representative of the Arc of Texas; o a representative of a managed care organization; o a Medicaid long-term services and supports provider; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD receiving home and community-based services, including under the home and community-based services waiver program; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a licensed private intermediate care facility for such; o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a state supported living center; o a representative of HHSC's office of the ombudsman; o representatives of HHSC, with one representative appointed from each division of HHSC with responsibility for: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); intellectual and developmental disability behavioral health services; health and specialty care system employment; health, developmental, and independence services; and access and eligibility services; o a physician; and o any additional members as the executive commissioner determines appropriate who are recognized experts serving individuals with an IDD or who represent the interests of individuals with an IDD. H.B. 2542 requires the work group, in conducting the study, to evaluate and identify the following topics related to services needed by individuals with an IDD, as applicable: the accessibility of existing services and resources in Texas, including public and private programs; the quality of existing services provided in Texas, including the effectiveness of programs designed to promote health, education, employment, and community inclusion; factors that contribute to mental health conditions, including the impact of trauma; gaps in the availability of services, including access to services to address needs of individuals with a co-occurring mental health condition; the adequacy of funding for acute and long-term care services and supports, including the financial sustainability of existing service delivery models; the availability and capacity of trained professionals who provide needed services; public safety net services, including the scope of local intellectual and developmental disability authorities to coordinate services and meet needs; the status of interest lists for services or programs, including the average wait time; best practices and innovative models used in and outside of Texas, including the potential for implementing or expanding on those practices and models; and stakeholder input, including input from affected individuals and their families, caregivers, advocacy groups, and service providers. H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner, not later than December 1, 2025, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over intellectual and developmental disability issues, a written report that includes the following: a summary of the work group's findings based on the results of the study conducted under the bill's provisions; recommendations to address gaps in access to, and challenges in the provision of, acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD; recommendations for improving funding models, service delivery systems, and workforce development strategies in relation to the provision of services to individuals with an IDD; recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including legislation or rules, to implement the work group's recommendations; and suggested timelines for implementing the work group's recommendations. The bill's provisions expire and the work group is abolished December 31, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
According to the Texas Statewide Intellectual and Development Disabilities Strategic Plan, individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) experience distinct, lifelong needs. The strategic plan reports that Texas, along with the rest of the country, has made significant progress in shifting its publicly funded systems away from reliance on large-scale institutions and toward services to support people with an IDD to live at home or in small, community-based settings. However, the bill author has informed the committee that stakeholders are still identifying gaps in the continuum of care, including interactions with law enforcement, child and adult protective services, hospital emergency departments, and requests for services in institutional settings. H.B. 2542 seeks to address this issue by establishing a work group of inter-agency representatives, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to conduct a study and make recommendations to address gaps in access to acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than October 1, 2025, to establish a work group to conduct a study and make recommendations on the specialized services needed by individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in Texas, including individuals with mental health conditions or other high behavioral needs.
H.B. 2542 establishes the composition of the work group as follows:
one or more representatives designated by each of the following entities, with the executive commissioner of HHSC determining the number of representatives that each entity may designate:
o the Department of State Health Services;
o the Department of Family and Protective Services;
o the Texas Workforce Commission;
o the Texas Education Agency;
o the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin;
o the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University;
o the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
o the Texas Commission on Jail Standards; and
the following members appointed by the executive commissioner:
o a representative of a local intellectual and developmental disability authority;
o a representative of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities;
o a representative of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities;
o a representative of the Arc of Texas;
o a representative of a managed care organization;
o a Medicaid long-term services and supports provider;
o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD receiving home and community-based services, including under the home and community-based services waiver program;
o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a licensed private intermediate care facility for such;
o an individual or family member of an individual with an IDD residing in a state supported living center;
o a representative of HHSC's office of the ombudsman;
o representatives of HHSC, with one representative appointed from each division of HHSC with responsibility for:
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP);
intellectual and developmental disability behavioral health services;
health and specialty care system employment;
health, developmental, and independence services; and
access and eligibility services;
o a physician; and
o any additional members as the executive commissioner determines appropriate who are recognized experts serving individuals with an IDD or who represent the interests of individuals with an IDD.
H.B. 2542 requires the work group, in conducting the study, to evaluate and identify the following topics related to services needed by individuals with an IDD, as applicable:
the accessibility of existing services and resources in Texas, including public and private programs;
the quality of existing services provided in Texas, including the effectiveness of programs designed to promote health, education, employment, and community inclusion;
factors that contribute to mental health conditions, including the impact of trauma;
gaps in the availability of services, including access to services to address needs of individuals with a co-occurring mental health condition;
the adequacy of funding for acute and long-term care services and supports, including the financial sustainability of existing service delivery models;
the availability and capacity of trained professionals who provide needed services;
public safety net services, including the scope of local intellectual and developmental disability authorities to coordinate services and meet needs;
the status of interest lists for services or programs, including the average wait time;
best practices and innovative models used in and outside of Texas, including the potential for implementing or expanding on those practices and models; and
stakeholder input, including input from affected individuals and their families, caregivers, advocacy groups, and service providers.
H.B. 2542 requires the executive commissioner, not later than December 1, 2025, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over intellectual and developmental disability issues, a written report that includes the following:
a summary of the work group's findings based on the results of the study conducted under the bill's provisions;
recommendations to address gaps in access to, and challenges in the provision of, acute and long-term care services and supports for individuals with an IDD;
recommendations for improving funding models, service delivery systems, and workforce development strategies in relation to the provision of services to individuals with an IDD;
recommendations for legislative or administrative action, including legislation or rules, to implement the work group's recommendations; and
suggested timelines for implementing the work group's recommendations.
The bill's provisions expire and the work group is abolished December 31, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.