S.B. No. 1693
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study of seniors with a visual impairment by the Aging
  Texas Well Advisory Committee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a)  In this section, "advisory committee" means
  the Aging Texas Well Advisory Committee.
         (b)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall direct the advisory committee to assist
  the commission to:
               (1)  determine the appropriate level of independent
  living services for the growing number of seniors in the state with
  visual impairment; and
               (2)  make recommendations on the provision of services
  to seniors described by Subdivision (1).
         (c)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
  other law, in implementing its duties under this Act, the advisory
  committee may meet by telephone conference call, videoconference,
  or other similar telecommunication method.  A meeting held by
  telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar
  telecommunication method is subject to the requirements of Sections
  551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government Code.
         (d)  The advisory committee shall conduct a study to
  determine the projected growth and geographic distribution of
  seniors with a visual impairment in the next 5 to 10 years and
  methods for improving and expanding services, including
  independent living services, to those seniors. The study must:
               (1)  identify the barriers to expanding health care
  services to seniors with a visual impairment;
               (2)  include methods for expanding coordination
  efforts with and involvement by public and private entities;
               (3)  recommend a training curriculum for state agency
  personnel who provide direct intervention and independent living
  services to seniors with a visual impairment;
               (4)  identify and recommend a strategy to increase the
  number of state agency personnel who provide direct intervention
  and independent living services to seniors with a visual
  impairment; and
               (5)  determine potential public and private
  collaborators that provide services to seniors with a visual
  impairment, including:
                     (A)  assessing the current level of
  collaboration;
                     (B)  identifying the barriers preventing a
  greater level of collaboration than the current level of
  collaboration;
                     (C)  identifying the methods, additional
  incentives, and additional benefits this state may offer to
  increase collaboration, coordination, and partnerships;
                     (D)  determining the role of public and private
  entities that provide services to persons with a visual impairment
  who are not blind; and
                     (E)  establishing methods for incentivizing
  private entities to provide services to seniors with a visual
  impairment.
         (e)  The advisory committee shall develop, in collaboration
  with private entities and other organizations that assist
  individuals with a visual impairment, methods to publicize the
  services available to seniors with a visual impairment.  The Health
  and Human Services Commission may solicit and accept funding for
  and contract with a private entity for implementing an advisory
  committee recommendation under this subsection.
         (f)  The recommendations required by Subsection (b) of this
  section must be in the form of a new initiative, an immediate
  proposed regulatory change by a state agency, a proposed statutory
  amendment, or a suggested funding level.
         (g)  The advisory committee shall develop and submit a
  written report on the study, publicity methods, and recommendations
  developed by the advisory committee to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each
  member of the legislature not later than November 1, 2018.
         (h)  This Act expires June 1, 2019.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1693 passed the Senate on
  May 3, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1693 passed the House on
  May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 2, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor