86R13401 KFF-D

By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1955

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program to identify and refer eligible children to early childhood intervention services.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Chapter 75 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 75. 2-1-1 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM

Sec. 75.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Developmental delay" has the meaning assigned by Section 73.001.

(3) "Early childhood intervention program" means the program established under Chapter 73 to provide early childhood intervention services in accordance with Part C, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.).

(4) "Pilot program" means the 2-1-1 developmental screening pilot program established under Section 75.0002.

(5) "2-1-1 operator" means the commission or the person the commission contracts within a region of this state to provide the 2-1-1 telephone number for access to human services.

Sec. 75.0002. 2-1-1 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING PILOT PROGRAM. Not later than March 1, 2020, the commission shall develop and implement a pilot program under which a 2-1-1 operator:

(1) offers and provides to the child of a consenting parent or guardian who contacts the 2-1-1 operator a developmental screening if the child is under three years of age; and

(2) if the developmental screening indicates the child is at moderate to high risk of having a developmental delay or has a medically diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental disability, refers the child to the early childhood intervention program.

Sec. 75.0003. LOCATION OF PILOT PROGRAM; SELECTION OF 2-1-1 OPERATOR. The commission shall implement the pilot program in one service region or county in this state. The region or county in which the pilot program is implemented must:

(1) contain at least one provider authorized to provide services under the early childhood intervention program;

(2) have experienced a loss of providers under the early childhood intervention program, as determined by the commission; and

(3) be served by a 2-1-1 operator that:

(A) volunteers to administer the pilot program; and

(B) has an existing relationship with at least one of the authorized providers under the early childhood intervention program.

Sec. 75.0004. SUPPORT OF COMMISSION. The commission shall support the 2-1-1 operator selected to administer the pilot program in any capacity necessary, including by:

(1) modifying the scripts used by individuals employed by the 2-1-1 operator to answer calls made to the telephone number in order to accurately identify children eligible for the developmental screening under the pilot program;

(2) providing appropriate training to individuals described by Subdivision (1) to identify children eligible for the developmental screening under the pilot program;

(3) making the ability to request a developmental screening available on the selected 2-1-1 operator's Internet website; and

(4) providing information to the 2-1-1 operator necessary to enable the operator to make referrals to the early childhood intervention program.

Sec. 75.0005. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2021, the commission shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot program and submit a report to the legislature. The report must:

(1) evaluate the operation of the pilot program;

(2) detail the number and demographic characteristics of children:

(A) screened and referred to the early childhood intervention program under the pilot program; and

(B) receiving services under the early childhood intervention program as a result of having been referred to that program under the pilot program; and

(3) make recommendations regarding the continuation or expansion of the program.

Sec. 74.0006. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization, including an amendment to the state plan for the child health plan program under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.