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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of notice by the Department of Aging and |
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Disability Services to neighborhoods in which certain group homes |
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are located to protect the safety of the residents of those group |
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homes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 161.089 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.089. NOTICE REGARDING GROUP HOMES. (a) The |
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purpose of this section is to protect the safety of residents of |
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group homes and the neighborhoods in which those group homes are |
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located. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, "group home" means: |
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(1) a residence in which residential support or |
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supervised living is provided through the Home and Community-based |
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Services waiver program; or |
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(2) a residence in which fewer than seven persons |
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reside and in which services are provided through the intermediate |
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care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or |
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related condition program. |
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(c) In accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section 3604(f)(9), the |
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commission and the department shall collaborate with advocacy |
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groups for persons with disabilities to develop, and the executive |
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commissioner shall by rule to establish, a process for the |
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department to provide notice about the presence of a group home to |
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the neighborhood in which the group home is located if: |
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(1) law enforcement officers have responded to |
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multiple emergencies at the group home; |
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(2) multiple emergencies or crises have been |
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documented at the group home; |
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(3) elopements have occurred from the group home; or |
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(4) the department has otherwise determined that |
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notice is required to protect the safety of the residents of the |
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group home or the neighborhood in which the group home is located. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |