S.B. No. 1917

AN ACT

relating to a public outreach campaign for aging adults with visual impairments.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0319 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.0319. OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS FOR AGING ADULTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. (a) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and other appropriate state agencies, shall conduct public awareness and education outreach campaigns designed to provide information relating to the programs and resources available to aging adults who are blind or visually impaired in this state. The campaigns must be:

(1) tailored to targeted populations, including:

(A) aging adults with or at risk of blindness or visual impairment and the families and caregivers of those adults;

(B) health care providers, including home and community-based services providers, health care facilities, and emergency medical services providers;

(C) community and faith-based organizations; and

(D) the general public; and

(2) disseminated through methods appropriate for each targeted population, including by:

(A) attending health fairs; and

(B) working with organizations or groups that serve aging adults, including community clinics, libraries, support groups for aging adults, veterans organizations, for-profit providers of vision services, and the state and local chapters of the National Federation of the Blind.

(b) To support campaigns conducted under this section, the commission shall:

(1) establish a toll-free telephone number for providing counseling and referrals to appropriate services for aging adults who are blind or visually impaired;

(2) post on the commission's Internet website information and training resources for aging adults, community stakeholders, and health care and other service providers that generally serve aging adults, including:

(A) links to Internet websites that contain resources for persons who are blind or visually impaired;

(B) existing videos that provide awareness of blindness and visual impairments among aging adults and the importance of early intervention;

(C) best practices for referring aging adults at risk of blindness or visual impairment for appropriate services; and

(D) training about resources available for aging adults who are blind or visually impaired for the staff of aging and disability resource centers established under the Aging and Disability Resource Center initiative funded in part by the federal Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services;

(3) designate a contact in the commission to assist aging adults who are diagnosed with a visual impairment and are losing vision and the families of those adults with locating and obtaining appropriate services; and

(4) encourage awareness of the reading services for persons who are blind or visually impaired that are offered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1917 passed the Senate on April 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1917 passed the House on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 109, Nays 38, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor