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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing pilot program to offer assistance for |
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older adults diagnosed with severe vision loss. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sec. 117.080, Human Resources Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall ensure that all services provided |
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under the independent living services program that the department |
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operates under Title VII of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
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(29 U.S.C. Section 796 et seq.) are directly provided by centers for |
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independent living, except as provided by Subsection (b), and are |
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not directly provided by the department. |
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(b) If an area of the state does not have a center for |
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independent living, or no center for independent living in that |
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area is able to provide certain necessary services under the |
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independent living services program, the department shall seek to |
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identify a center for independent living that is willing and able to |
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contract with a nonprofit organization or other person to provide |
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the independent living services in the area under the program. If |
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no center for independent living is willing and able to contract |
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with another organization or other person, the department may |
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directly contract with an organization or other person who is not a |
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center for independent living to provide the independent living |
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services in the area under the program. |
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(c) The department shall evaluate the independent living |
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services provided by a center for independent living and shall |
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provide necessary training or technical assistance to help the |
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center for independent living expand its capacity to provide a full |
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range of independent living services. |
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(1) In the department review, the department shall |
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establish major cities who have the ability to offer day-time |
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classes teaching independent living skills. These major |
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cities may establish a pilot program to conduct these classes |
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for older adults diagnosed with severe vision loss. |
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(d) The department shall monitor the performance of each |
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center for independent living in providing independent living |
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services, including how the center for independent living monitors |
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the performance of the organizations and other persons with whom it |
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contracts to provide independent living services. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to |
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implement this section that include: |
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(1) an equitable and transparent methodology for |
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allocating funds to centers for independent living under the |
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independent living services program; |
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(2) requirements applicable to the department in |
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contracting with centers for independent living to provide |
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independent living services under the program; |
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(3) requirements applicable to centers for |
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independent living in contracting with organizations and other |
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persons to provide independent living services under the program; |
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(4) requirements applicable to the department in |
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contracting with organizations or other persons who are not centers |
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for independent living to provide independent living services under |
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the program; |
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(5) a process for the department to monitor |
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independent living services contracts; |
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(6) guidelines on the department's role in providing |
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technical assistance and training to centers for independent living |
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as necessary; and |
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(7) expectations for department employees to refer |
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persons who contact the department seeking independent living |
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services to centers for independent living. |
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SECTION 2. This act takes effect September 1, 2023. |