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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to educate residents and families of |
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residents of nursing homes and intermediate care facilities for the |
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mentally retarded about advance care planning. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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Department of Aging and Disability Services shall develop and |
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implement a pilot program to increase the use of advance directives |
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by residents of nursing homes and intermediate care facilities for |
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the mentally retarded in this state by educating the residents and |
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the families of residents about advance care planning. |
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(b) The pilot program shall provide for a process to educate |
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residents and the families of residents regarding: |
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(1) the legal issues associated with advance |
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directives; |
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(2) the health care choices available to a person with |
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a terminal or irreversible condition; |
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(3) the proper completion of advance directives; and |
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(4) the importance of discussing advance directives |
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with family, friends, advisers, and health care providers. |
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SECTION 2. RULES. The executive commissioner of the Health |
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and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2010, the |
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Department of Aging and Disability Services shall submit a report |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and the appropriate standing committees of the |
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legislature, regarding the pilot program that includes: |
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(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot |
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program; and |
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(2) a recommendation to continue, expand, or eliminate |
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the pilot program. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |