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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a closure plan for the Austin State Supported Living |
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Center. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. CLOSURE PLAN. (a) The Health and Human Services |
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Commission, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall establish a |
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closure plan for the Austin State Supported Living Center. The plan |
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must provide for closure of the facility and operations of the |
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Austin State Supported Living Center not later than August 31, |
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2024. |
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(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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transition as many individuals to the community as possible, while |
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maintaining respect for resident choice. The closure plan must |
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provide procedures to transition individuals using all available |
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placements, including access to placement under a home and |
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community-based services (HCS) waiver program, intermediate care |
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facility, or other state supported living center. The Health and |
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Human Services Commission must involve in the planning process |
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community providers, residents, individuals with an intellectual |
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or developmental disability who are receiving home and |
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community-based (HCS) waiver services, and other stakeholders. |
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(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall develop a |
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plan, in collaboration with a representative of the Austin State |
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Supported Living Center employees, to transition current employees |
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to other employment. The Health and Human Services Commission may |
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award one-time retention bonuses to each direct support |
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professional, qualified intellectual disability professional, |
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social worker, and case manager who agrees to continue to provide |
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services at the Austin State Supported Living Center until the |
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center is closed. |
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(d) Any proceeds from the closure, including from the sale |
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or lease of facilities or other property, may be appropriated only |
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for services for persons with intellectual and developmental |
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disabilities, including persons with a dual diagnosis of |
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intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness. |
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(e) Not later than August 31, 2025, the Health and Human |
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Services Commission, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall |
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evaluate the closure process, including how well the closure plan |
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worked and outcomes for residents transitioned, and, if |
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appropriate, shall develop recommended policies for future |
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closures of other state supported living centers. |
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SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |