S.B. No. 50
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Children's Policy Council, including the
  composition of the council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (a), (b), (e), (f), (g), (i), (j),
  (k), and (l), Section 22.035, Human Resources Code, are amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A work group to be known as the Children's Policy
  Council shall assist the Department of Aging and Disability
  Services [department], the Health and Human Services Commission
  [commissioner of health and human services], the [Texas] Department
  of State Health Services, the [Texas] Department of Assistive and
  Rehabilitative Services [Mental Health and Mental Retardation],
  and the Department of Family and Protective [and Regulatory]
  Services in developing, implementing, and administering family
  support policies for children with disabilities relating to:
               (1)  [and related] long-term services and supports;
               (2)  health services; and
               (3)  mental [care and] health services [programs for
  children].
         (b)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission [health and human services] shall appoint the
  members of the work group, which must include the following:
               (1)  a person who is younger than 22 years of age and is
  a consumer of long-term care and health programs for children;
               (2)  an individual who is younger than 25 years of age
  and who receives or has received mental health services;
               (3)  relatives of consumers of long-term care and
  health programs for children 26 years of age or younger;
               (4) [(3)]  a representative from an organization that
  is an advocate for consumers of long-term care and health programs
  for children;
               [(4)     a representative from a state agency that
  provides long-term care and health programs for children;]
               (5)  a person from a private entity that provides
  long-term care and health programs for children;
               (6)  a person from a public entity that provides
  long-term care and health programs for children;
               (7)  a person with expertise in the availability of
  funding and the application of funding formulas for children's
  long-term care and health services;
               (8)  a representative from a faith-based organization;
               (9)  a representative from a nonspecialized community
  services organization; and
               (10)  a representative from a business that is not
  related to providing services to persons with disabilities.
         (e)  The Health and Human Services Commission [department
  and the Texas Department of Health] shall [equally] provide
  administrative support, including staff, to the work group.
         (f)  A member of the work group serves at the will of the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  [health and human services].
         (g)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission [health and human services] shall appoint a
  member of the work group to serve as a presiding officer.
         (i)  A member of the work group receives no additional
  compensation for serving on the work group. Consumers and
  relatives of consumers serving on the work group shall be
  reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessary for
  participation as provided in the General Appropriations Act. Other
  members of the work group may not be reimbursed for travel or other
  expenses incurred while conducting the business of the work group.
  Reimbursement under this subsection shall be paid equally out of
  funds appropriated to the Department of Aging and Disability
  Services [department] and funds appropriated to the [Texas]
  Department of State Health Services.
         (j)  The work group may [shall] study and make
  recommendations in the following areas:
               (1)  access of a child or a child's family to effective
  case management services, including case management services with a
  single case manager, parent case managers, or independent case
  managers;
               (2)  the transition needs of children who reach an age
  at which they are no longer eligible for services at the [Texas]
  Department of State Health Services, the Texas Education Agency,
  and other applicable state agencies;
               (3)  the blending of funds, including case management
  funding, for children needing long-term care, [and] health
  services, and mental health services;
               (4)  collaboration and coordination of children's
  services between the Department of Aging and Disability Services
  [department], the [Texas] Department of State Health Services, the
  [Texas] Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the
  Department of Family and Protective Services [Mental Health and
  Mental Retardation], and any other agency determined to be
  applicable by the work group;
               (5)  budgeting and the use of funds appropriated for
  children's long-term care services, [and children's] health
  services, and mental health services;
               (6)  services and supports for families providing care
  for children with disabilities;
               (7)  effective permanency planning for children who
  reside in institutions or who are at risk of placement in an
  institution;
               (8)  barriers to enforcement of regulations regarding
  institutions that serve children with disabilities; and
               (9)  the provision of services under the medical
  assistance program to children younger than 23 years of age with
  disabilities or special health care needs under a waiver granted
  under Section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
  Section 1396n(c)).
         (k)  Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the work group shall report on its findings and recommendations to
  the legislature and the executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission [health and human services].
         (l)  After evaluating and considering recommendations
  reported under Subsection (k), the executive commissioner of the 
  Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement
  guidelines for providing long-term care, [and] health services, and
  mental health services to children with disabilities.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (f), Section 531.159, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (f)  The commission by rule shall develop procedures by which
  to conduct the reviews required by Subsections (c), (d), and (e).
  In developing the procedures, the commission may [shall] seek input
  from the work group on children's long-term services, [care and]
  health services, and mental health services [programs] established
  under Section 22.035, Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall appoint three additional members to the
  Children's Policy Council.  In appointing members, the executive
  commissioner shall consider appointing members with expertise in
  mental health services.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 50 passed the Senate on
  March 13, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 50 passed the House on
  May 14, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor