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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a pilot program for professional support |
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service provider services for persons who are deaf-blind. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.001, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (6) to read as follows: |
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(6) "Support service provider" means a person who is |
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specially trained to enable persons who are deaf-blind to access |
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their environments and make informed decisions by providing visual |
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and environmental information, sighted guide services, and |
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communication accessibility in the person's preferred language and |
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communication mode. Preferred communication modes include |
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auditory amplification with a personal FM system, visible Signed |
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English, visible American Sign Language, or tactile sign language. |
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A support service provider does not provide personal care, run |
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errands alone for, or make decisions for a person who is deaf-blind, |
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teach or instruct a person who is deaf-blind, or interpret for a |
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person who is deaf-blind in formal settings, such as medical, |
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legal, or business appointments. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 81, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 81.002 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.022. Support Service Provider Program Pilot. (a) |
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Out of funds provided for this program, the Department shall |
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develop a pilot program for the provision of support service |
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providers for persons who are deaf-blind. |
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(b) This pilot shall be located in two counties in the State |
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where a significant deaf-blind population resides. |
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(c) The Department has the authority to develop rules to: |
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(1) administer the pilot program in a manner that |
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balances maximum efficiency, serving the most people as possible, |
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and how to best serve the deaf-blind community; and |
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(2) ensure those receiving compensation for service as |
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a support service provider have a proper level of training. |
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(d) The Department shall establish a pay rate for the |
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support service providers that utilizes a tiered wage scale based |
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on a support service provider's: |
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(1) level of training; |
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(2) fluency in the deaf-blind person's preferred |
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communication mode; and |
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(3) other skills in deaf-blind communication |
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modalities. |
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(e) The agency shall begin planning for the implementation |
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of this pilot during the year proceeding the starting date. |
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(f) This pilot is to begin September 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |