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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of employment assistance and supported |
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employment to certain Medicaid waiver program participants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.075. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTED |
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EMPLOYMENT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Employment assistance" means assistance provided |
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to an individual to help the individual locate paid employment in |
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the community. Employment assistance includes: |
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(A) identifying an individual's employment |
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preferences, job skills, and requirements for a work setting and |
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work conditions; |
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(B) locating prospective employers offering |
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employment compatible with an individual's identified preferences, |
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skills, and requirements; and |
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(C) contacting a prospective employer on behalf |
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of an individual and negotiating the individual's employment. |
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(2) "Supported employment" means assistance provided, |
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in order to sustain paid employment, to an individual who, because |
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of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be |
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self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting at which |
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individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported |
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employment includes adaptations, supervision, and training related |
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to an individual's diagnosis. |
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(b) This section applies only to the following medical |
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assistance waiver programs: |
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(1) the community based alternatives program; |
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(2) the community living assistance and support |
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services program; |
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(3) the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities |
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program; |
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(4) the home and community-based services program; |
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(5) the medically dependent children program; |
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(6) the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program; |
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(7) the Texas home living program; and |
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(8) the youth empowerment services program. |
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(c) The department shall provide employment assistance and |
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supported employment to participants in the waiver programs |
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identified in Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
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this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for |
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any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement this Act. |
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The commission may delay implementing this Act until the waiver or |
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authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |