| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the development of neighborhood and community |
|
|
engagement plans for residents of certain group homes. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 161.089 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 161.089. NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLANS |
|
|
FOR GROUP HOMES. (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) An operator of a group home shall develop and maintain a |
|
|
neighborhood and community engagement plan to promote positive |
|
|
relationships between community members and residents of the group |
|
|
home. The plan must: |
|
|
(1) address barriers to and facilitate meaningful |
|
|
neighborhood and community interaction and involvement by |
|
|
residents of the group home; |
|
|
(2) protect the civil rights of residents of the group |
|
|
home; and |
|
|
(3) protect the rights to which residents of the group |
|
|
home are entitled under the Health Insurance Portability and |
|
|
Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191) and state and |
|
|
federal fair housing laws. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |