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House Bill 1454 |
House Author: Naishtat et al. |
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Effective: 5-20-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini |
House Bill 1454 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to create a volunteer-supported decision-making advocate pilot program for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and persons with other cognitive disabilities. The bill requires the commission to select at least one rural community and at least one urban community in which to implement the program, convene a work group to develop the rules and structure of the pilot program, and contract with one or more entities to administer the program and recruit and train volunteer advocates to provide services through the program. The bill sets out procedures for the award of such a contract, clarifies that the program is to provide services to persons living in the community, and prohibits the pilot program from serving residents of a state school.
House Bill 1454 requires the commission to publish a report before each regular session of the legislature that includes an evaluation of the program, recommended improvements, and a recommendation to continue, expand, or eliminate the program. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is required to appoint members to the work group not later than January 1, 2010. The program's statutory authorization expires September 1, 2013.