BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 645 By: Gonzlez, Mary Human Services Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, about 2,500 Texans experience a dual sensory loss of hearing and vision, otherwise known as deaf-blindness. Many of these individuals are adults striving to live as independently as possible while facing many substantial barriers. Unfortunately, not all of these individuals qualify for existing state-supported services, such as those available through the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities Medicaid waiver program. As a result, these individuals may receive little community access or aid and could be forced to rely on untrained volunteers. H.B. 645 seeks to ensure that Texans attempting to maintain independence while dealing with the loss of their hearing and vision can do so by implementing a policy recommendation of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to establish a co-navigator program within the Health and Human Services Commission. 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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill. ANALYSIS H.B. 645 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to operate a statewide co-navigation services program through which such services are provided to deaf-blind individuals by co-navigators who are reimbursed by HHSC for the provision of the services. H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner of HHSC by rule to establish reimbursement rates to be paid to a co-navigator under the program using a tiered wage scale based on the co‑navigator's level of training and fluency and skill in communication modes and sighted guide-mobility for deaf-blind individuals. The bill requires HHSC to ensure that quality co‑navigation services are provided under the program by doing the following: monitoring the compliance of co-navigators with program rules; developing funding sources for the program that are in addition to state sources and will reduce reliance on the state sources for continuation of the program; and providing funding and technical assistance for training programs for co-navigators and deaf-blind individuals under the program. H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to establish an advisory committee to advise HHSC in developing and operating the program. The bill requires the executive commissioner to determine the number of members serving on the advisory committee, which must include deaf-blind individuals and other stakeholders. H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to adopt rules necessary to operate the program in a manner that is efficient and maximizes the number of individuals served and to ensure that co-navigators receiving reimbursement under the program have adequate training to provide co‑navigation services. H.B. 645 defines the following terms for purposes of its provisions: "co-navigation services" means services provided to an individual who is deaf-blind that assist the individual to physically access their environment and to make informed decisions, including the provision of visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assistance with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the individual who is deaf-blind, but not including the performance of any of the following for the individual: o providing personal care services to the individual; o completing ordinary errands for the individual; o making decisions for the individual; o teaching or otherwise instructing the individual; or o interpreting for the individual in a formal setting, including a medical, legal, or business setting; "communication mode" includes communication through the following: o auditory amplification, such as through a personal hearing aid or assistive listening device; o American Sign Language or Signed English by both tactile and visual means; and o protactile language, which is defined by the bill as a method of communication based on touch that is used by individuals who are deaf-blind; and "co-navigator" means a person who is specially trained to provide co-navigation services. H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner, not later than September 1, 2026, to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions and requires HHSC to begin operating the program not later than that date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 645
By: Gonzlez, Mary
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 645
By: Gonzlez, Mary
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, about 2,500 Texans experience a dual sensory loss of hearing and vision, otherwise known as deaf-blindness. Many of these individuals are adults striving to live as independently as possible while facing many substantial barriers. Unfortunately, not all of these individuals qualify for existing state-supported services, such as those available through the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities Medicaid waiver program. As a result, these individuals may receive little community access or aid and could be forced to rely on untrained volunteers. H.B. 645 seeks to ensure that Texans attempting to maintain independence while dealing with the loss of their hearing and vision can do so by implementing a policy recommendation of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to establish a co-navigator program within the Health and Human Services Commission.
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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS H.B. 645 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to operate a statewide co-navigation services program through which such services are provided to deaf-blind individuals by co-navigators who are reimbursed by HHSC for the provision of the services. H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner of HHSC by rule to establish reimbursement rates to be paid to a co-navigator under the program using a tiered wage scale based on the co‑navigator's level of training and fluency and skill in communication modes and sighted guide-mobility for deaf-blind individuals. The bill requires HHSC to ensure that quality co‑navigation services are provided under the program by doing the following: monitoring the compliance of co-navigators with program rules; developing funding sources for the program that are in addition to state sources and will reduce reliance on the state sources for continuation of the program; and providing funding and technical assistance for training programs for co-navigators and deaf-blind individuals under the program. H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to establish an advisory committee to advise HHSC in developing and operating the program. The bill requires the executive commissioner to determine the number of members serving on the advisory committee, which must include deaf-blind individuals and other stakeholders. H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to adopt rules necessary to operate the program in a manner that is efficient and maximizes the number of individuals served and to ensure that co-navigators receiving reimbursement under the program have adequate training to provide co‑navigation services. H.B. 645 defines the following terms for purposes of its provisions: "co-navigation services" means services provided to an individual who is deaf-blind that assist the individual to physically access their environment and to make informed decisions, including the provision of visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assistance with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the individual who is deaf-blind, but not including the performance of any of the following for the individual: o providing personal care services to the individual; o completing ordinary errands for the individual; o making decisions for the individual; o teaching or otherwise instructing the individual; or o interpreting for the individual in a formal setting, including a medical, legal, or business setting; "communication mode" includes communication through the following: o auditory amplification, such as through a personal hearing aid or assistive listening device; o American Sign Language or Signed English by both tactile and visual means; and o protactile language, which is defined by the bill as a method of communication based on touch that is used by individuals who are deaf-blind; and "co-navigator" means a person who is specially trained to provide co-navigation services. H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner, not later than September 1, 2026, to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions and requires HHSC to begin operating the program not later than that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
According to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, about 2,500 Texans experience a dual sensory loss of hearing and vision, otherwise known as deaf-blindness. Many of these individuals are adults striving to live as independently as possible while facing many substantial barriers. Unfortunately, not all of these individuals qualify for existing state-supported services, such as those available through the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities Medicaid waiver program. As a result, these individuals may receive little community access or aid and could be forced to rely on untrained volunteers. H.B. 645 seeks to ensure that Texans attempting to maintain independence while dealing with the loss of their hearing and vision can do so by implementing a policy recommendation of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to establish a co-navigator program within the Health and Human Services Commission.
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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 645 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to operate a statewide co-navigation services program through which such services are provided to deaf-blind individuals by co-navigators who are reimbursed by HHSC for the provision of the services.
H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner of HHSC by rule to establish reimbursement rates to be paid to a co-navigator under the program using a tiered wage scale based on the co‑navigator's level of training and fluency and skill in communication modes and sighted guide-mobility for deaf-blind individuals. The bill requires HHSC to ensure that quality co‑navigation services are provided under the program by doing the following:
monitoring the compliance of co-navigators with program rules;
developing funding sources for the program that are in addition to state sources and will reduce reliance on the state sources for continuation of the program; and
providing funding and technical assistance for training programs for co-navigators and deaf-blind individuals under the program.
H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to establish an advisory committee to advise HHSC in developing and operating the program. The bill requires the executive commissioner to determine the number of members serving on the advisory committee, which must include deaf-blind individuals and other stakeholders.
H.B. 645 authorizes the executive commissioner to adopt rules necessary to operate the program in a manner that is efficient and maximizes the number of individuals served and to ensure that co-navigators receiving reimbursement under the program have adequate training to provide co‑navigation services.
H.B. 645 defines the following terms for purposes of its provisions:
"co-navigation services" means services provided to an individual who is deaf-blind that assist the individual to physically access their environment and to make informed decisions, including the provision of visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assistance with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the individual who is deaf-blind, but not including the performance of any of the following for the individual:
o providing personal care services to the individual;
o completing ordinary errands for the individual;
o making decisions for the individual;
o teaching or otherwise instructing the individual; or
o interpreting for the individual in a formal setting, including a medical, legal, or business setting;
"communication mode" includes communication through the following:
o auditory amplification, such as through a personal hearing aid or assistive listening device;
o American Sign Language or Signed English by both tactile and visual means; and
o protactile language, which is defined by the bill as a method of communication based on touch that is used by individuals who are deaf-blind; and
"co-navigator" means a person who is specially trained to provide co-navigation services.
H.B. 645 requires the executive commissioner, not later than September 1, 2026, to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions and requires HHSC to begin operating the program not later than that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.