81R10681 KFF-F
 
  By: Naishtat H.B. No. 3263
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a home- and community-based
  services workforce council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter P-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER P-1.  HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WORKFORCE
  COUNCIL
         Sec. 531.621.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council"
  means the home- and community-based services workforce council.
         Sec. 531.622.  HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WORKFORCE
  COUNCIL; COMPOSITION. (a)  The home- and community-based services
  workforce council is established.
         (b)  The council is composed of 13 members appointed by the
  executive commissioner as follows:
               (1)  two members who are, at the time of appointment,
  recipients of home- and community-based services;
               (2)  one family member of a child who is, at the time of
  appointment, receiving home- and community-based services;
               (3)  three members who, at the time of appointment,
  provide attendant services to recipients of home- and
  community-based services;
               (4)  one member who is a representative of the
  Disability Policy Consortium;
               (5)  one member who is a representative of the American
  Association of Retired Persons;
               (6)  one member who is a representative of the Texas
  Association of Area Agencies on Aging;
               (7)  one member who is a representative of the Texas
  Association of Centers for Independent Living;
               (8)  one member who is a representative of a local
  mental retardation authority;
               (9)  one member who is a representative of the Texas
  Association for Home Care, Incorporated; and
               (10)  one member who is a representative of the Private
  Providers Association of Texas.
         (c)  A member of the council serves at the pleasure of the
  executive commissioner.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall select a presiding
  officer from among the members of the council.
         Sec. 531.623.  COMPENSATION. A council member serves
  without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual
  and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a
  council member, subject to any applicable limitation on
  reimbursement provided by the General Appropriations Act.
         Sec. 531.624.    COUNCIL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)  The council
  shall:
               (1)  at least quarterly, meet at the call of the
  presiding officer;
               (2)  identify and study workforce issues relating to
  the provision of home- and community-based services to the aging
  and disabled populations of this state, including issues relating
  to wages and benefits, turnover, recruitment, and retention of
  personal attendants;
               (3)  review the current and anticipated need in this
  state for home- and community-based services and the workforce
  available in this state to meet that need;
               (4)  solicit, review, and make policy and funding
  recommendations relating to home- and community-based services;
               (5)  request reports and other information relating to
  the home- and community-based services workforce as necessary from
  the executive commissioner, the Department of Aging and Disability
  Services, other health and human services agencies, the Texas
  Workforce Commission, or the attorney general; and
               (6)  make recommendations to the executive
  commissioner and the legislature regarding the issues specified in
  Subdivision (2).
         (b)  The commission shall provide assistance and resources
  to the council as necessary for the council to perform its duties
  under this subchapter.
         Sec. 531.625.  REPORTS. (a)  Not later than September 1 of
  each even-numbered year, the council shall submit a report based on
  its findings to:
               (1)  the executive commissioner;
               (2)  the governor;
               (3)  the lieutenant governor;
               (4)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (5)  the senate finance committee;
               (6)  the house appropriations committee;
               (7)  the senate health and human services committee;
  and
               (8)  the house human services committee.
         (b)  The report must include:
               (1)  an analysis of the current and anticipated funding
  needs for home- and community-based services in this state and the
  workforce available to meet that need;
               (2)  identification of significant problems in the
  home- and community-based services workforce; and
               (3)  policy and funding recommendations.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than the 30th day after the effective
  date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall appoint the members of the home- and
  community-based services workforce council as established by
  Subchapter P-1, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.