88R13490 KKR-F

By: Price H.B. No. 4169

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing prevocational services under certain Medicaid waiver programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0755 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.0755. PREVOCATIONAL SERVICES UNDER CERTAIN WAIVER PROGRAMS. (a) In this section, "prevocational services" means services that are designed to prepare an individual for paid or unpaid work and achieve a generalized result rather than being job-task oriented.

(b) Prevocational services provided under the community living assistance and support services (CLASS) waiver program or another medical assistance waiver program providing long-term services or supports to a medical assistance recipient must be designed to assist the recipient in achieving permanent integrated employment receiving compensation at or above the minimum wage in the recipient's community and in accordance with state and federal law.

(c) For purposes of determining a recipient's eligibility for individualized skills and socialization services under a medical assistance program providing long-term services or supports to recipients under the medical assistance program, habilitation services include prevocational services.

SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.