BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1386
86R4164 GCB-D	By: Thompson, Senfronia (Zaffirini)
	Health & Human Services
	5/2/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In 2009, the legislature directed the Health and Human Services Commission to create the Texas Autism Research and Resource Center (TARRC), which conducts training for professionals who interact with persons with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Under current law, TARRC fulfilled its statutory obligation to conduct training for "school, medical, or law enforcement personnel" by publishing an online training for law enforcement only.

 

H.B. 1386 would ensure that school, medical, and law enforcement personnel receive evidence‑based training regarding communicating and engaging effectively with persons with autism, who may have limited social and verbal abilities. H.B. 1386 also would add the Department of Family and Protective services personnel to those who would receive this training.

 

H.B. 1386 amends current law relating to training and development activities for persons who may interact with an individual with autism or other pervasive developmental disorder.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 114.013, Human Resources Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:

 

(b) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), as part of coordinating resources under Subsection (a) (relating to requiring HHSC to coordinate resources for individuals with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders and their families and consult with appropriate state agencies), to:

 

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision;

 

(2) conduct training and development activities for persons who may interact with an individual with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder in the course of their employment, including school, medical, and law enforcement personnel, and personnel of the Department of Family and Protective Services, rather than including school, medical, or law enforcement personnel; and

 

(3) and (4) makes no changes to these subdivisions.

 

(c) Requires HHSC to ensure that training and development activities under this section (Coordination of Resources For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder) are:

 

(1) evidenced-based;

 

(2) applicable to the professional role of each type of personnel to be trained under Subsection (b)(2); and

 

(3) instructive regarding means of effectively communicating and engaging with individuals with limited social or verbal abilities.

 

(d) Requires HHSC, at least once every five years, in consultation with an institution of higher education, to revise the materials and methods for the training and development activities to be provided under Subsection (b)(2).

 

SECTION 2. Requires the executive commissioner of HHSC, not later than September 1, 2024, to revise the materials and methods for the training and development activities to be provided under Section 114.013(b)(2), Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.