86R14151 JG-F

By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1790

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to peer specialists and the provision of peer services to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

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

(a) With input from mental health, intellectual or developmental disability, and substance use peer specialists 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 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;

(2) rules that establish certification and supervision requirements for peer specialists;

(3) rules that define the scope of services that peer specialists may provide;

(4) rules that distinguish peer services from other services that a person must hold a license to provide; and

(5) any other rules necessary to protect the health and safety of persons receiving peer services.

(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 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) one mental health peer specialist who works in an urban area;

(4) one mental health peer specialist who works in a rural area;

(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) one substance use peer specialist who works in an urban area;

(8) [(6)] one substance use peer specialist who works in a rural area;

(9) [(7)] one person who trains mental health peer specialists;

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

(11) [(8)] one person who trains substance use peer specialists;

(12) [(9)] 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) [(10)] 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) [(11)] any other persons considered appropriate by the executive commissioner.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.