1-1     By:  Hildebran (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)           H.B. No. 2509

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 21, 1997;

 1-3     April 23, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 7, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; May 7, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to a pilot program for the treatment of Alzheimer's

 1-9     patients.

1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

1-12     is amended by adding Section 32.0246 to read as follows:

1-13           Sec. 32.0246.  PILOT PROGRAM FOR TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S

1-14     PATIENTS.  (a)  The Texas Department of Human Services, in

1-15     cooperation with all appropriate state and federal agencies and

1-16     with the advisory committee established in Subsection (b), shall

1-17     develop and implement a pilot program for the treatment of

1-18     individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  The pilot program

1-19     shall:

1-20                 (1)  be operated in one rural county and one urban

1-21     county contiguous to the rural county;

1-22                 (2)  provide a continuum of care and comprehensive case

1-23     management, address gaps in services, and address the special needs

1-24     of Alzheimer's patients; and

1-25                 (3)  develop and implement counseling, education, and

1-26     support services for the caregivers and family members of

1-27     Alzheimer's patients.

1-28           (b)  The Texas Department of Human Services shall appoint an

1-29     advisory committee to assist the department in developing and

1-30     implementing the pilot program.  The advisory committee shall be

1-31     composed of:

1-32                 (1)  four representatives from groups that advocate for

1-33     Alzheimer's patients;

1-34                 (2)  one representative from an institution of higher

1-35     education;

1-36                 (3)  one clinician;

1-37                 (4)  one representative from the Texas Department on

1-38     Aging;

1-39                 (5)  one representative from the Texas Department of

1-40     Human Services; and

1-41                 (6)  one representative from the Texas Department of

1-42     Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

1-43           (c)  The pilot program may not make eligible for medical

1-44     assistance any individual not otherwise eligible for medical

1-45     assistance.

1-46           (d)  The Texas Department of Human Services may seek and

1-47     accept a gift, grant, or donation from any person for purposes of

1-48     developing and implementing the pilot program provided that the

1-49     person does not have a contested case pending before any agency

1-50     participating in the pilot program.

1-51           (e)  Not later than January 15, 1999, the Texas Department of

1-52     Human Services shall submit to the legislature a report concerning

1-53     the effectiveness of the pilot program.

1-54           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-55     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-56     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-57     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-58     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

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