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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to peer specialists, peer services, and the provision of |
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those services under the medical assistance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0999. PEER SPECIALISTS. (a) With input from peer |
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specialists, state-approved organizations that certify peer |
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specialists, and other relevant stakeholders, the commission shall |
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develop and the executive commissioner shall adopt: |
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(1) rules that establish two peer specialist types, |
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one that provides services to persons with mental illness and one |
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that provides services to persons with substance abuse problems; |
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(2) rules that establish certification and |
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supervision requirements for each type of peer specialist; |
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(3) rules that define the scope of services that peer |
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specialists may provide; and |
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(4) any other rules necessary to protect the health |
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and safety of persons receiving peer services. |
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(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a)(3) must include |
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in the scope of services that peer specialists may provide: |
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(1) one-to-one support; |
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(2) advocacy; |
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(3) systems navigation; |
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(4) support group facilitation; |
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(5) transportation assistance; |
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(6) assistance in developing skills that promote |
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independence in the community; |
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(7) assistance in locating community supports; |
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(8) monitoring a person's progress toward the person's |
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achievement of a person-centered plan; |
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(9) resource connecting; |
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(10) staff, family, and community education; |
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(11) crisis intervention; and |
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(12) coordination of appointments. |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (nn) and (oo) to read as follows: |
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(nn) The department in its rules and standards governing the |
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scope of services provided under the medical assistance program |
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shall include peer support services provided by certified peer |
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specialists to the extent permitted by federal law. |
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(oo) The department shall establish a separate provider |
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type for peer specialists for purposes of enrollment as providers |
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of and reimbursement under the medical assistance program. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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531.0999, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish and implement a separate provider type for peer |
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specialists as required by Section 32.024(oo), Human Resources |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 6. 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, 2015. |