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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the lifespan respite services pilot |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 161.075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.075. LIFESPAN RESPITE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM. (a) |
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In this section, "respite services" means support services, |
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including in-home services or adult day-care services, that are |
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provided for the purpose of temporarily giving relief to a primary |
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caregiver who provides care to an individual with a chronic illness |
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or disability. |
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(b) The department shall implement the lifespan respite |
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services pilot program to promote the provision of respite services |
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and to develop state and local infrastructure for the provision of |
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those services. |
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(c) A person is eligible to participate in the pilot program |
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if the person: |
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(1) is the primary caregiver for a person who: |
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(A) is younger than 60 years of age; |
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(B) is related to the caregiver within the second |
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degree of consanguinity or affinity; and |
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(C) has a chronic illness or disability; and |
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(2) meets criteria specified in rules adopted by the |
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executive commissioner. |
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(d) In implementing the pilot program, the department |
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shall: |
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(1) maintain a registry of respite services providers; |
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(2) connect caregivers participating in the program |
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with available respite services providers; |
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(3) coordinate resources among respite services |
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providers; |
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(4) build local partnerships with respite services |
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providers; |
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(5) implement public awareness activities regarding |
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respite services; and |
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(6) subject to the availability of funds, provide |
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vouchers for respite services to caregivers participating in the |
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program who are not eligible for respite services provided through |
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other programs. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall: |
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(1) select the area of this state in which to implement |
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the pilot program; and |
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(2) adopt rules necessary to implement the pilot |
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program. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2008, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, in |
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consultation with the Department of Aging and Disability Services, |
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shall submit a report to the governor and the Legislative Budget |
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Board regarding the lifespan respite services pilot program |
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established under Section 161.075, Human Resources Code, as added |
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by this Act. The report must include an evaluation of the effect of |
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the pilot program on: |
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(1) access to respite services by primary caregivers |
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of persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities; and |
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(2) Medicaid expenditures for long-term care services |
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provided in institutional care settings. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |