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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a voluntary home nursing visitation program for |
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newborns. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. VOLUNTARY HOME NURSING VISITATION PROGRAM FOR |
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NEWBORNS |
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Sec. 32.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Community" means a group of individuals within a |
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geographic region or county, including a tribe or other group of |
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individuals, living in proximity as determined by executive |
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commissioner rule. |
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(2) "Program" means the voluntary statewide home |
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nursing visitation program established by this subchapter. |
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Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission |
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shall design, implement, and maintain a voluntary statewide home |
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nursing visitation program for all eligible individuals with |
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newborns residing in this state to support healthy child |
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development and strengthen families. |
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(b) In designing the program, the commission shall: |
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(1) ensure the program is flexible in meeting the |
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needs of the communities in which the program operates; and |
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(2) as necessary, consult and collaborate with health |
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benefit plan issuers that offer health benefit plans in this state, |
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hospitals, local public health authorities, existing early |
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childhood home visitation programs, community-based organizations, |
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and social service providers. |
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Sec. 32.203. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for |
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participation in the program, an individual must apply to the |
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commission in the form and manner prescribed by executive |
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commissioner rule and: |
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(1) must be: |
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(A) 18 to 44 years of age; or |
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(B) 15 to 17 years of age and: |
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(i) have the disabilities of minority |
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removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code; or |
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(ii) apply with the consent of the |
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individual's parent, legal guardian, or managing conservator; |
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(2) must be a United States citizen or permanent legal |
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resident; |
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(3) must be a resident of this state; |
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(4) may not have health benefit plan coverage that |
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covers family planning services; and |
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(5) must have a monthly maximum family income in an |
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amount that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty |
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level. |
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Sec. 32.204. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. The program must |
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provide to eligible individuals home nursing visitation services |
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that: |
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(1) are based on criteria established by the United |
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States Department of Health and Human Services for an |
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evidence-based early childhood home visitation service delivery |
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model; |
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(2) are provided by registered nurses licensed in this |
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state to families of individuals caring for newborns up to six |
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months of age, including foster and adoptive newborns; |
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(3) are provided in the individual's home; |
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(4) are focused on improving outcomes in one or more of |
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the following: |
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(A) child health; |
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(B) child development and school readiness; |
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(C) family economic self-sufficiency; |
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(D) maternal health; |
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(E) positive parenting; |
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(F) reduction of child mistreatment; |
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(G) reduction of juvenile delinquency; |
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(H) reduction of family violence; and |
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(I) reduction of crime; |
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(5) are voluntary and do not impose negative |
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consequences on an individual who participates or declines to |
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participate; |
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(6) are offered in every community in this state; |
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(7) include an evidence-based assessment of the |
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physical, social, and emotional factors affecting the individual's |
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family; |
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(8) are offered to all individuals with newborns |
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residing in the community in which the program operates and the |
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families of the individuals; |
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(9) include at least one visit before the newborn is |
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three months old with the opportunity for not more than three |
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additional visits; |
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(10) include a follow-up visit not later than the |
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third month after the initial visit; and |
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(11) provide information and referrals to address each |
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family's identified needs. |
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Sec. 32.205. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT; DATA SHARING. The |
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commission shall: |
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(1) collect and analyze data generated by the program |
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to assess the effectiveness of the program in improving the |
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outcomes described by Section 32.204(4); and |
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(2) collaborate with other state agencies to develop |
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protocols for sharing data, including the timely sharing of data |
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with primary care providers who are providing care to the |
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individuals with newborns receiving services under the program and |
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their families. |
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SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Subchapter G, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this |
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Act, not later than January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 3. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission may apply to the United States secretary |
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of health and human services to obtain a waiver under 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 18052 to obtain federal financial participation in the cost |
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of services provided under the voluntary statewide home nursing |
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visitation program established by Subchapter G, Chapter 32, Health |
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and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |