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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a task force on ensuring an |
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appropriate care setting for a person with a disability. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02441 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02441. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON ENSURING |
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APPROPRIATE CARE SETTINGS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The |
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executive commissioner shall establish an interagency task force to |
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assist the commission and appropriate health and human services |
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agencies in developing a comprehensive, effectively working plan to |
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ensure appropriate care settings for persons with disabilities. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall determine the number |
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of members of the task force. The executive commissioner shall |
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appoint as members of the task force: |
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(1) representatives of appropriate health and human |
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services agencies; |
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(2) representatives of related work groups; |
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(3) representatives of consumer and family advocacy |
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groups; and |
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(4) representatives of service providers for persons |
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with disabilities. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall designate a member of |
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the task force to serve as presiding officer. The members of the |
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task force shall elect any other necessary officers. |
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(d) The task force shall meet at the call of the executive |
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commissioner. |
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(e) A member of the task force serves at the will of the |
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executive commissioner. |
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(f) A member of the task force may not receive compensation |
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for serving on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
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travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the |
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business of the task force as provided by the General |
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Appropriations Act. |
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(g) The task force shall study and make recommendations to |
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the commission on developing the comprehensive, effectively |
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working plan required by Section 531.0244(a) to ensure appropriate |
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care settings for persons with disabilities. |
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(h) In addition to making recommendations under Subsection |
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(g), the task force shall advise the commission and appropriate |
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health and human services agencies with respect to implementing the |
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comprehensive, effectively working plan required by Section |
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531.0244(a), giving primary consideration to: |
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(1) methods to identify and assess each person who |
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resides in an institution but chooses to live in the community and |
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for whom a transfer from an institution to the community is |
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appropriate, as determined by the person's treating professionals; |
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(2) determining the health and human services |
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agencies' availability of community care and support options |
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relating to all persons described by Subdivision (1); |
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(3) identifying, addressing, and monitoring barriers |
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to implementation of the plan to improve that implementation; and |
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(4) identifying funding options for the plan. |
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(i) Not later than September 1 of each year, the task force |
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shall submit a report to the executive commissioner on its findings |
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and recommendations required by Subsection (g). |
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(j) The task force is abolished and this section expires |
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September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2021, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish the interagency task force under Section 531.02441, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |