Amend CSSB 204 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 161.090 to read as follows:
Sec. 161.090. NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLANS FOR GROUP HOMES WORK GROUP. (a) For purposes of this section, "group home" means:
(1) a residence in which residential support or supervised living is provided through the Home and Community-Based Services waiver program; or
(2) a residence in which fewer than seven persons reside and in which services are provided through the intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or related condition program.
(b) The department shall establish a temporary work group composed of all relevant stakeholders to:
(1) study and recommend best practices for keeping residents of group homes safe; and
(2) develop neighborhood and community engagement plans to:
(A) promote positive relationships between community members and residents of group homes;
(B) address barriers to and facilitate meaningful neighborhood and community interaction and involvement by residents of group homes;
(C) protect the civil rights of residents of group homes; and
(D) protect the rights to which residents of group homes are entitled under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191) and state and federal fair housing laws.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2016, the temporary work group established under this section shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over intellectual and developmental disability issues a report containing:
(1) recommendations of the work group concerning best practices examined under Subsection (b)(1) to keep residents of group homes safe; and
(2) the neighborhood and community engagement plan developed under Subsection (b)(2).
(d) The work group established under this section is abolished and this section expires September 1, 2016.