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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to identify and refer eligible children |
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to early childhood intervention services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 75 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 75. 2-1-1 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 75.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Developmental delay" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 73.001. |
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(3) "Early childhood intervention program" means the |
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program established under Chapter 73 to provide early childhood |
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intervention services in accordance with Part C, Individuals with |
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Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.). |
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(4) "Pilot program" means the 2-1-1 developmental |
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screening pilot program established under Section 75.0002. |
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(5) "2-1-1 operator" means the commission or the |
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person the commission contracts within a region of this state to |
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provide the 2-1-1 telephone number for access to human services. |
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Sec. 75.0002. 2-1-1 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM. |
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Not later than March 1, 2020, the commission shall develop and |
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implement a pilot program under which a 2-1-1 operator: |
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(1) offers and provides to the child of a consenting |
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parent or guardian who contacts the 2-1-1 operator a developmental |
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screening if the child is under three years of age; and |
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(2) if the developmental screening indicates the child |
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is at moderate to high risk of having a developmental delay or has a |
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medically diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high |
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probability of resulting in a developmental disability, refers the |
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child to the early childhood intervention program. |
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Sec. 75.0003. LOCATION OF PILOT PROGRAM; SELECTION OF 2-1-1 |
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OPERATOR. The commission shall implement the pilot program in one |
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service region or county in this state. The region or county in |
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which the pilot program is implemented must: |
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(1) contain at least one provider authorized to |
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provide services under the early childhood intervention program; |
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(2) have experienced a loss of providers under the |
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early childhood intervention program, as determined by the |
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commission; and |
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(3) be served by a 2-1-1 operator that: |
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(A) volunteers to administer the pilot program; |
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and |
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(B) has an existing relationship with at least |
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one of the authorized providers under the early childhood |
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intervention program. |
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Sec. 75.0004. SUPPORT OF COMMISSION. The commission shall |
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support the 2-1-1 operator selected to administer the pilot program |
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in any capacity necessary, including by: |
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(1) modifying the scripts used by individuals employed |
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by the 2-1-1 operator to answer calls made to the telephone number |
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in order to accurately identify children eligible for the |
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developmental screening under the pilot program; |
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(2) providing appropriate training to individuals |
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described by Subdivision (1) to identify children eligible for the |
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developmental screening under the pilot program; |
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(3) making the ability to request a developmental |
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screening available on the selected 2-1-1 operator's Internet |
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website; and |
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(4) providing information to the 2-1-1 operator |
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necessary to enable the operator to make referrals to the early |
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childhood intervention program. |
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Sec. 75.0005. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2021, the |
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commission shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot program and |
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submit a report to the legislature. The report must: |
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(1) evaluate the operation of the pilot program; |
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(2) detail the number and demographic characteristics |
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of children: |
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(A) screened and referred to the early childhood |
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intervention program under the pilot program; and |
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(B) receiving services under the early childhood |
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intervention program as a result of having been referred to that |
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program under the pilot program; and |
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(3) make recommendations regarding the continuation |
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or expansion of the program. |
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Sec. 74.0006. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September |
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1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization, including |
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an amendment to the state plan for the child health plan program |
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under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, from a federal agency is |
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necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected |
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by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may |
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delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization |
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is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |