BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1790
8614151 JG-F	By: Zaffirini
	Health & Human Services
	4/3/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) benefit significantly from peer support services. In Texas, there are state grant-funded initiatives that provide certified training and a pathway to employment for peer support specialists with IDD. Unfortunately, providers currently cannot bill Medicaid for these services.

In 2017, H.B. 1486 by Representative Four Price established Medicaid billable peer support services for persons with mental health and substance use disorders. S.B. 1790 would add peer support services for persons with IDD to this framework, expanding opportunities for persons with IDD to live independently and enhancing their quality of life. What's more, it would ensure peer support specialists with IDD are compensated in the same manner as mental health and substance use peer specialists.

As proposed, S.B. 1790 amends current law relating to peer specialists and the provision of peer services to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 531.0999, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 531.0999(a) and (b), Government Code, as added by Chapter 1015 (H.B. 1486), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, as follows:

(a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop, with input from mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists and the work group described by Subsection (b), and the executive commissioner of HHSC (executive commissioner) to adopt:

(1) rules that establish training requirements for peer specialists so that they are able to provide services to persons with a mental illness or intellectual or developmental disability or services to persons with substance use conditions; and

(2)�(5) makes no changes to these subdivisions.

(b) Provides that the work group established by HHSC to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (a) is composed of the following stakeholders appointed by the executive commissioner:

(1)  one representative of each organization that certifies mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists in this state;

(2)  three representatives of organizations that employ mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists;

(3)�(4) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(5) one intellectual or developmental disability peer specialist who works in an urban area;

(6)  one intellectual or developmental disability peer specialist who works in a rural area;

(7) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes no further changes to this subdivisions;

(8)�(9) redesignates existing Subdivisions (6) and (7) as Subdivisions (8) and (9);

(10) one person who trains intellectual or developmental disability peer specialists;

(11) redesignates existing Subdivisions (8)�(11) as Subdivisions (11)�(14);

(12) three representatives of mental health and addiction licensed health care professional groups who supervise mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists;

(13) to the extent possible, not more than three persons with personal experience recovering from mental illness, substance use conditions, or co-occurring mental illness and substance use conditions or with personal experience living with an intellectual or developmental disability; and

(14) makes no further changes to this subdivision.

SECTION 2. Requires the executive commissioner, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.