H.B. No. 2463
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the continuation of the functions of the Department of
  Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and certain other functions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 117.001, Human Resources Code, is
  amended by amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (1-a),
  (1-b), (4-a), and (4-b) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Caseworker" means a department employee who
  manages a client's case under a direct services program and
  provides direct services to the client under the program.
               (1-a)  "Center for independent living" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 702 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  (29 U.S.C. Section 796a).
               (1-b)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (4-a)  "Direct services" means services provided to a
  client by a department employee, including counseling,
  facilitating the purchase of services from a source other than the
  department, and purchasing equipment and other items and providing
  other services necessary for the client to successfully complete a
  department program.
               (4-b)  "Direct services program" means a program
  operated by the department through which direct services are
  provided.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 117.079, 117.080, 117.081, and
  117.082 to read as follows:
         Sec. 117.079.  INTEGRATION OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES
  PROGRAMS. (a) Not later than September 1, 2016, the department
  shall integrate into a single independent living services program
  the following programs that the department operates under Title VII
  of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 796 et
  seq.):
               (1)  the Independent Living Program for individuals who
  are blind or have visual impairments; and
               (2)  the Independent Living Services Program for
  individuals with significant disabilities.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules
  necessary to facilitate the integration of the programs identified
  in Subsection (a), including rules that direct the department, as
  the single designated state entity responsible for administering
  the state's independent living services program, to comply with the
  requirements of 29 U.S.C. Section 796c for the integrated program.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2017.
         Sec. 117.080.  PROVISION OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES.
  (a) The department shall ensure that all services provided under
  the independent living services program that the department
  operates under Title VII of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  (29 U.S.C. Section 796 et seq.) are directly provided by centers for
  independent living, except as provided by Subsection (b), and are
  not directly provided by the department.
         (b)  If an area of the state does not have a center for
  independent living, or no center for independent living in that
  area is able to provide certain necessary services under the
  independent living services program, the department shall seek to
  identify a center for independent living that is willing and able to
  contract with a nonprofit organization or other person to provide
  the independent living services in the area under the program. If
  no center for independent living is willing and able to contract
  with another organization or other person, the department may
  directly contract with an organization or other person who is not a
  center for independent living to provide the independent living
  services in the area under the program.
         (c)  The department shall evaluate the independent living
  services provided by a center for independent living and shall
  provide necessary training or technical assistance to help the
  center for independent living expand its capacity to provide a full
  range of independent living services.
         (d)  The department shall monitor the performance of each
  center for independent living in providing independent living
  services, including how the center for independent living monitors
  the performance of the organizations and other persons with whom it
  contracts to provide independent living services.
         (e)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
  implement this section that include:
               (1)  an equitable and transparent methodology for
  allocating funds to centers for independent living under the
  independent living services program;
               (2)  requirements applicable to the department in
  contracting with centers for independent living to provide
  independent living services under the program;
               (3)  requirements applicable to centers for
  independent living in contracting with organizations and other
  persons to provide independent living services under the program;
               (4)  requirements applicable to the department in
  contracting with organizations or other persons who are not centers
  for independent living to provide independent living services under
  the program;
               (5)  a process for the department to monitor
  independent living services contracts;
               (6)  guidelines on the department's role in providing
  technical assistance and training to centers for independent living
  as necessary; and
               (7)  expectations for department employees to refer
  persons who contact the department seeking independent living
  services to centers for independent living.
         (f)  Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, the
  department shall ensure that services provided under the
  independent living services program are provided as required by
  this section not later than August 31, 2016.  This subsection
  expires September 1, 2017.
         Sec. 117.081.  COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES
  PROGRAM. The department shall operate a comprehensive
  rehabilitation services program to provide comprehensive
  rehabilitation services to persons with traumatic brain or spinal
  cord injuries. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules for
  the program that include:
               (1)  a system of organization for the delivery of the
  comprehensive rehabilitation services;
               (2)  eligibility requirements for the comprehensive
  rehabilitation services;
               (3)  the types of services that may be provided to a
  client under the program; and
               (4)  requirements for client participation in the costs
  of the comprehensive rehabilitation services.
         Sec. 117.082.  CHILDREN'S AUTISM PROGRAM. The department
  shall operate a children's autism program to provide services to
  children with autism spectrum disorders. The executive
  commissioner shall adopt rules for the program that include:
               (1)  a system of organization for the delivery of the
  autism services;
               (2)  eligibility requirements for the autism services;
               (3)  the types of services that may be provided to a
  client under the program; and
               (4)  requirements for participation by the client's
  family in the costs of the autism services.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D-1.  ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAMS IN
  GENERAL
         Sec. 117.091.  DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM CASEWORKER
  GUIDELINES. (a) The department shall use program data and best
  practices to establish and maintain guidelines that provide
  direction for caseworkers' decisions in all of the department's
  direct services programs. The guidelines:
               (1)  must categorize direct services program cases
  based on the types of services provided and, for each category,
  include provisions addressing:
                     (A)  the recommended length of time a case in that
  category should last; and
                     (B)  the recommended total expenditures for a case
  in that category;
               (2)  must include provisions for creating intermediate
  goals for a client receiving services through a direct services
  program that will allow:
                     (A)  the caseworker to monitor the client's
  progress; and
                     (B)  the caseworker's supervisor to evaluate how
  the client's case is advancing;
               (3)  must include criteria for caseworkers to use in
  evaluating progress on the intermediate goals described in
  Subdivision (2); and
               (4)  may include other provisions designed to assist
  caseworkers and their supervisors to achieve successful outcomes
  for clients.
         (b)  A caseworker may exceed the recommended guidelines
  described in Subsection (a)(1) in a direct services program case
  but must obtain the approval of the caseworker's supervisor after
  documenting the need to exceed the guidelines.
         (c)  The guidelines established under this section are not
  intended to limit the provision of appropriate or necessary
  services to a client.
         (d)  The department shall provide the guidelines established
  under this section to caseworkers in a format that allows
  caseworkers to easily access the information.
         Sec. 117.092.  DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM CASE REVIEW SYSTEM.
  (a) The department shall establish and maintain a single, uniform
  case review system for all direct services programs.
         (b)  The case review system must:
               (1)  include risk assessment tools that account for the
  different risks involved in each direct services program;
               (2)  require that case reviews:
                     (A)  be used to consistently evaluate each direct
  services program across all regions, with the goal of evaluating at
  least 10 percent of all cases in each program and region annually;
                     (B)  focus on areas of highest risk and prioritize
  the review of the following cases:
                           (i)  except as provided by Subparagraph
  (ii), cases in which direct services have been provided for more
  than two years;
                           (ii)  cases in the Blind Children's
  Vocational Discovery and Development Program in which direct
  services have been provided for more than five years; and
                           (iii)  cases that are significantly outside
  the expenditure guidelines for that type of case;
                     (C)  be used to evaluate a caseworker's
  eligibility determinations and decisions to close a case before a
  service plan is developed or without the client reaching the
  client's goal; and
                     (D)  focus on the quality of a caseworker's
  decision-making and compliance with program requirements; and
               (3)  require a caseworker's supervisor to use the
  reviews of a caseworker's cases in conducting the caseworker's
  performance evaluation and in providing informal guidance to the
  caseworker to improve the caseworker's performance.
         Sec. 117.093.  DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM MONITORING. (a)
  Department personnel not employed to perform functions directly
  under a direct services program must be designated to monitor those
  programs from a statewide perspective. The designated personnel
  shall collect, monitor, and analyze data relating to direct
  services programs and report outcomes and trends to program
  managers and, as necessary, the commissioner or other appropriate
  executive management.
         (b)  The monitoring function under Subsection (a) must
  include monitoring of:
               (1)  performance data from all regions and all direct
  services programs to identify trends; and
               (2)  case review data to ensure compliance with the
  case review system under Section 117.092.
         (c)  Personnel designated to perform the monitoring function
  required by this section shall work with direct services program
  staff to develop objective and detailed outcome measures for the
  programs.
         (d)  The department may conduct internal peer reviews of the
  department's field offices at regular intervals to assess the field
  offices' compliance with federal regulations and department
  policies and to compare each field office's compliance with the
  compliance of the other field offices. The department may use
  personnel designated to perform the monitoring function required by
  this section to facilitate the internal peer reviews.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Subchapter A, Chapter 117, Human Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 117.004 and 117.005 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 117.004.  INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW.
  Notwithstanding Section 117.003, Section 325.017, Government Code,
  does not apply to the department.
         Sec. 117.005.  MEANING OF CERTAIN REFERENCES IN LAW. (a) A
  reference in this chapter or in any other law to the department in
  relation to a function transferred to the commission under Section
  117.012 means the commission or the division of the commission
  performing the function after its transfer.
         (b)  In this chapter or in any other law and notwithstanding
  any other law, a reference to any of the following state agencies or
  entities or to the chief executive officer or governing body of any
  of the following state agencies or entities in relation to a
  function transferred to the commission under Section 117.012 from
  the department that the department assumed in accordance with
  Chapter 198 (H.B. 2292), Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2003, means the executive commissioner, the commission, or
  the division of the commission performing the function after its
  transfer to the commission:
               (1)  the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
               (2)  the Interagency Council on Early Childhood
  Intervention;
               (3)  the Texas Commission for the Blind; and
               (4)  the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
  Hearing.
         (c)  A reference in this chapter or in any other law to the
  commissioner in relation to a function transferred to the
  commission under Section 117.012 means the executive commissioner,
  the executive commissioner's designee, or the director of the
  division of the commission performing the function after its
  transfer.
         (d)  A reference in this chapter or in any other law to the
  council in relation to a function after its transfer to the
  commission under Section 117.012 means the executive commissioner
  or the executive commissioner's designee, as appropriate, and a
  function previously performed by the council is a function of that
  appropriate person.
         (b)  Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter A-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER A-1. TRANSFER OF ASSISTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
  TO COMMISSION
         Sec. 117.011.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Administrative support services" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 531.0055(d), Government Code.
               (2)  "Function" includes a power, duty, program, or
  activity of a state agency or entity.
         Sec. 117.012.  TRANSFER OF ASSISTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE
  SERVICES TO COMMISSION. (a) Not later than September 1, 2016, and
  subject to Subsection (b), all functions of the department and
  council, including administrative support services functions, are
  transferred to the commission as provided by this subchapter.
         (b)  If S.B. 208, H.B. 3294, or similar legislation of the
  84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is enacted and becomes law
  and provides for the transfer of certain department functions to an
  entity other than the commission, the functions transfer as
  provided by that legislation and are not subject to transfer under
  Subsection (a).
         Sec. 117.013.  EFFECT OF TRANSFERS. (a)  All of the
  following that relate to a function that is transferred to the
  commission under Section 117.012 are transferred to the commission
  on the date the related function is transferred to the commission:
               (1)  all obligations and contracts, including
  obligations and contracts related to a grant program;
               (2)  all property and records in the custody of the
  department or council from which the function is transferred;
               (3)  all funds appropriated by the legislature and
  other money;
               (4)  all complaints, investigations, or contested
  cases that are pending before the department or the commissioner,
  without change in status; and
               (5)  all necessary personnel, as determined by the
  executive commissioner.
         (b)  A rule, policy, or form adopted by or on behalf of the
  department or council that relates to a function that is
  transferred to the commission under Section 117.012 becomes a rule,
  policy, or form of the commission on transfer of the related
  function and remains in effect:
               (1)  until altered by the executive commissioner or
  commission, as appropriate; or
               (2)  unless it conflicts with a rule, policy, or form of
  the commission.
         (c)  A license, permit, or certification in effect that was
  issued by the department that relates to a function that is
  transferred to the commission under Section 117.012 is continued in
  effect as a license, permit, or certification of the commission on
  transfer of the related function until the license, permit, or
  certification expires, is suspended or revoked, or otherwise
  becomes invalid.
         Sec. 117.014.  APPLICABILITY OF FORMER LAW. An action
  brought or proceeding commenced before the date of a transfer
  prescribed by this subchapter, including a contested case or a
  remand of an action or proceeding by a reviewing court, is governed
  by the laws and rules applicable to the action or proceeding before
  the transfer.
         Sec. 117.015.  EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  expires September 1, 2019.
         (c)  Section 117.003, Human Resources Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 117.003.  SUNSET PROVISION. The Department of
  Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is subject to Chapter 325,
  Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence
  as provided by that chapter, the department is abolished [and this
  chapter expires] September 1, 2016 [2015].
         (d)  As soon as appropriate under Subchapter A-1, Chapter
  117, Human Resources Code, as added by this section, and in a manner
  that minimizes disruption of services, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall take appropriate action to be designated
  as the state agency responsible under federal law for any state or
  federal program that is transferred to the commission in accordance
  with that subchapter and for which federal law requires the
  designation of a responsible state agency.
         (e)  Effective September 1, 2016, the following provisions
  of the Human Resources Code, including provisions amended by S.B.
  No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, are
  repealed:
               (1)  Section 117.002;
               (2)  Section 117.021;
               (3)  Section 117.022;
               (4)  Section 117.023;
               (5)  Section 117.024;
               (6)  Section 117.025;
               (7)  Section 117.026;
               (8)  Section 117.027;
               (9)  Section 117.028;
               (10)  Section 117.029;
               (11)  Section 117.030;
               (12)  Section 117.032;
               (13)  Section 117.051;
               (14)  Section 117.052;
               (15)  Section 117.053;
               (16)  Section 117.054;
               (17)  Section 117.055;
               (18)  Section 117.056;
               (19)  Section 117.0711;
               (20)  Section 117.0712; and
               (21)  Section 117.072.
         (f)  Notwithstanding Subsection (e) of this section, the
  implementation of a provision repealed by that subsection ceases on
  the date all functions of the Department of Assistive and
  Rehabilitative Services or the Assistive and Rehabilitative
  Services Council are transferred to the Health and Human Services
  Commission as provided by Subchapter A-1, Chapter 117, Human
  Resources Code, as added by this section, or to another entity, to
  the extent the department or council is responsible for the
  provision's implementation.
         (g)  This section takes effect only if S.B. 200 or H.B. 2578,
  84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, does not become law.
         SECTION 5. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Committee" means the Health and Human Services
  Transition Legislative Oversight Committee established under this
  section.
               (3)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (4)  "Function" includes a power, duty, program, or
  activity of a state agency or entity.
         (b)  The Health and Human Services Transition Legislative
  Oversight Committee is created to facilitate the transfer of
  functions to or from the commission as provided by this Act and
  other enacted legislation of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session,
  2015, that becomes law, requiring such a transfer, with minimal
  negative effect on the delivery of services to which those
  functions relate.
         (c)  The committee is composed of 11 voting members, as
  follows:
               (1)  four members of the senate, appointed by the
  lieutenant governor;
               (2)  four members of the house of representatives,
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
               (3)  three members of the public, appointed by the
  governor.
         (d)  The executive commissioner serves as an ex officio,
  nonvoting member of the committee.
         (e)  A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the
  appointing official.
         (f)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
  representatives shall each designate a presiding co-chair from
  among their respective appointments.
         (g)  A member of the committee may not receive compensation
  for serving on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for
  travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
  business of the committee as provided by the General Appropriations
  Act.
         (h)  The committee shall:
               (1)  facilitate the transfer of functions to the
  commission prescribed by Subchapter A-1, Chapter 117, Human
  Resources Code, as added by this Act, and any other transfers
  described by Subsection (b) of this section, with minimal negative
  effect on the delivery of services to which those functions relate;
               (2)  with assistance from the commission and the state
  agencies and entities from which functions are transferred under
  the laws described under Subdivision (1) of this subsection, advise
  the executive commissioner concerning:
                     (A)  the functions to be transferred and the funds
  and obligations that are related to the functions;
                     (B)  the transfer of the functions and related
  records, property, funds, and obligations by the state agencies and
  entities; and
                     (C)  any required reorganization of the
  commission's administrative structure resulting from the
  transfers; and
               (3)  meet at the call of either chair at times
  determined appropriate by either chair.
         (i)  Chapter 551, Government Code, applies to the committee.
         (j)  The committee shall submit a report to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
  legislature not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year.
  The report must include an update on the progress of and issues
  related to the purposes and duties of the committee.
         (k)  The committee is abolished September 1, 2019.
         (l)  The transfers of functions described by Subsection (b)
  of this section must be accomplished in accordance with a
  transition plan developed by the executive commissioner that
  ensures that the transfers and provision of health and human
  services in this state are accomplished in a careful and
  deliberative manner.  The transition plan must:
               (1)  include an outline of the proposed organization of
  the transferred functions in the commission's organizational
  structure; and
               (2)  include details regarding movement of functions
  and a timeline that specifies the dates on which transfers are to be
  made.
         (m)  In developing the transition plan, the executive
  commissioner shall, before submitting the plan to the committee,
  the governor, and the Legislative Budget Board as required by
  Subsection (n) of this section:
               (1)  hold public hearings in various geographic areas
  in this state regarding the plan; and
               (2)  solicit and consider input from appropriate
  stakeholders.
         (n)  The executive commissioner shall submit the transition
  plan to the committee, the governor, and the Legislative Budget
  Board not later than March 1, 2016.  The committee shall comment on
  and make recommendations to the executive commissioner regarding
  any concerns or adjustments to the transition plan the committee
  determines appropriate.  The executive commissioner may not
  finalize the transition plan until the executive commissioner has
  reviewed and considered the comments and recommendations of the
  committee regarding the transition plan.
         (o)  The executive commissioner shall publish in the Texas
  Register:
               (1)  the transition plan developed under this section;
               (2)  any adjustments to the transition plan recommended
  by the committee;
               (3)  a statement regarding whether the executive
  commissioner adopted or otherwise incorporated the recommended
  adjustments; and
               (4)  if the executive commissioner did not adopt a
  recommended adjustment, the justification for not adopting the
  adjustment.
         (p)  Not later than October 1, 2015:
               (1)  the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the governor shall make the appointments to
  the committee as required by Subsection (c) of this section; and
               (2)  the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
  house of representatives shall each designate a presiding co-chair
  of the committee in accordance with Subsection (f) of this section.
         (q)  This section takes effect only if S.B. 200 or H.B. 2578,
  84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, does not become law.
         SECTION 6.  The following provisions of the Human Resources
  Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 91.022, as amended by S.B. No. 219, Acts
  of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015; and
               (2)  Section 117.153, as redesignated and amended by
  S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
         SECTION 7.  The executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section
  117.080(e), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, as soon as
  practicable after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 8.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 9.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2463 was passed by the House on April
  9, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2463 on May 26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2
  463 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor