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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, adult day-care services, and |
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facility-based services, that are provided for the purpose of |
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temporarily giving relief to a primary caregiver who provides |
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ongoing care to an individual with a chronic illness or disability. |
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(b) The department shall develop and implement the lifespan |
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respite services pilot program to promote the provision of respite |
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services. As part of the pilot program, the executive commissioner |
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shall contract with community-based organizations or local |
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governmental entities selected by the department to provide respite |
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services or to facilitate access to local respite services. |
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(c) A community-based organization or local governmental |
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entity that receives a contract under this section to facilitate |
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access to local respite services may: |
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(1) recruit and train respite services providers; |
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(2) maintain a registry of respite services providers; |
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(3) connect caregivers with available respite |
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services providers or programs; |
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(4) identify, coordinate, and develop community |
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resources for respite services; |
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(5) build local partnerships with respect to respite |
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services; |
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(6) implement public awareness activities regarding |
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respite services; and |
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(7) subject to the availability of funds, provide |
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vouchers for respite services to eligible primary caregivers, as |
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determined by rule of the executive commissioner, who are not |
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eligible for respite services provided through other programs. |
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(d) In implementing the pilot program, the department |
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shall: |
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(1) provide technical assistance to community-based |
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organizations and local governmental entities that receive a |
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contract under this section; |
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(2) provide policy and program development support for |
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organizations and entities described by Subdivision (1); |
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(3) monitor the activities for which the executive |
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commissioner contracts under this section; and |
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(4) select the areas of this state in which to |
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implement the pilot program. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement the pilot program, including: |
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(1) selection criteria for the award of contracts to |
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community-based organizations and local governmental entities; and |
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(2) guidelines for contract monitoring and reporting. |
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(f) In developing the pilot program and adopting rules under |
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this section, the department and executive commissioner, |
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respectively, shall review similar initiatives in other states. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2010, 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. |