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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to family partners, family partner peer support services, |
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and the provision of those services under the medical assistance |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.09993 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.09993. FAMILY PARTNERS. (a) With input from |
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family partners and the work group described by Subsection (b), the |
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commission shall develop and the executive commissioner shall |
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adopt: |
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(1) rules that establish training requirements for |
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family partners so that they are able to provide family partner peer |
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support services to families or primary caregivers of children with |
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a mental health disorder; |
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(2) rules that establish certification and |
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supervision requirements for family partners; |
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(3) rules that define the scope of services that |
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family partners may provide; and |
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(4) rules that distinguish family partner peer support |
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services from other services that a person must hold a license to |
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provide. |
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(b) The commission shall establish a stakeholder work group |
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to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (a). |
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The work group is composed of the following persons appointed by the |
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executive commissioner: |
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(1) one representative of an organization that |
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certifies family partners in this state; |
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(2) three representatives of organizations that |
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employ family partners; |
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(3) one family partner who works in an urban area; |
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(4) one family partner who works in a rural area; |
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(5) one person who trains family partners; |
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(6) three representatives of professional groups who |
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supervise family partners; |
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(7) to the extent possible, not more than three |
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persons with personal experience in being the primary caregivers of |
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children who received services for a mental health disorder; and |
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(8) any other persons considered appropriate by the |
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executive commissioner. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall appoint one member of |
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the work group to serve as presiding officer. |
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(d) The work group shall meet once every month. |
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(e) The work group is automatically abolished on the |
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adoption of rules under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (mm) to read as follows: |
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(mm) The commission in its rules and standards governing the |
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scope of services provided under the medical assistance program |
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shall include family partner peer support services provided by |
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certified family partners as part of the treatment of children with |
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a serious emotional disturbance to the extent permitted by federal |
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law. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall: |
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(1) adopt the rules required by Section 531.09993(a), |
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Government Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) appoint the members of the stakeholder work group |
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established by Section 531.09993(b), Government Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |