86R5998 EAS-F
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 2080
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to family partners, family partner peer support services,
  and the provision of those services under the medical assistance
  program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.09993 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.09993.  FAMILY PARTNERS.  (a)  With input from
  family partners and the work group described by Subsection (b), the
  commission shall develop and the executive commissioner shall
  adopt:
               (1)  rules that establish training requirements for
  family partners so that they are able to provide family partner peer
  support services to families or primary caregivers of children with
  a mental health disorder;
               (2)  rules that establish certification and
  supervision requirements for family partners;
               (3)  rules that define the scope of services that
  family partners may provide; and
               (4)  rules that distinguish family partner peer support
  services from other services that a person must hold a license to
  provide.
         (b)  The commission shall establish a stakeholder work group
  to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (a).
  The work group is composed of the following persons appointed by the
  executive commissioner:
               (1)  one representative of an organization that
  certifies family partners in this state;
               (2)  three representatives of organizations that
  employ family partners;
               (3)  one family partner who works in an urban area;
               (4)  one family partner who works in a rural area;
               (5)  one person who trains family partners;
               (6)  three representatives of professional groups who
  supervise family partners;
               (7)  to the extent possible, not more than three
  persons with personal experience in being the primary caregivers of
  children who received services for a mental health disorder; and
               (8)  any other persons considered appropriate by the
  executive commissioner.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall appoint one member of
  the work group to serve as presiding officer.
         (d)  The work group shall meet once every month.
         (e)  The work group is automatically abolished on the
  adoption of rules under Subsection (a).
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (mm) to read as follows:
         (mm)  The commission in its rules and standards governing the
  scope of services provided under the medical assistance program
  shall include family partner peer support services provided by
  certified family partners as part of the treatment of children with
  a serious emotional disturbance to the extent permitted by federal
  law. 
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall:
               (1)  adopt the rules required by Section 531.09993(a),
  Government Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  appoint the members of the stakeholder work group
  established by Section 531.09993(b), Government Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2019.