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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a pilot program to provide |
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protective services to certain persons determined to be at risk of |
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future harm from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 48.212 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.212. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SERVICES |
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TO PERSONS AT RISK OF FUTURE HARM. (a) Notwithstanding any other |
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law, including Section 48.002(a)(5), the department shall, using |
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existing resources, develop and implement a pilot program that |
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evaluates the feasibility and associated benefits of providing |
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protective services when an elderly person or person with a |
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disability has been determined, using criteria developed under |
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Section 48.004, to be at risk of future harm from abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation, but who is not in a state of abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation. |
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(b) Section 48.1523 does not apply to reports considered |
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under the pilot program developed under this section. |
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(c) The department may terminate the pilot program if the |
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executive commissioner determines the termination is appropriate. |
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The pilot program terminates August 31, 2017, unless the program is |
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terminated before that date in accordance with this subsection. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall develop and implement the |
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pilot program required under Section 48.212, Human Resources Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 15, 2016, the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services shall prepare and |
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issue a report of preliminary findings from the pilot program |
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required under Section 48.212, Human Resources Code, as added by |
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this Act, to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over |
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health and human services. |
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(b) Not later than December 15, 2017, the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall submit a final report on the |
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pilot program to the persons and entities described under |
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Subsection (a) of this section. The report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the feasibility and benefits of |
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the pilot program; |
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(2) any additional findings the department determines |
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appropriate; and |
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(3) recommendations for the continuation, |
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elimination, or expansion of the pilot program. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |