89R15741 EAS-F

By: Perry S.B. No. 2397

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the task force on disability policy.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 4, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 550A to read as follows:

CHAPTER 550A. TASK FORCE ON DISABILITY POLICY

Sec. 550A.0001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "task force" means the task force on disability policy established under Section 550A.0002.

Sec. 550A.0002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The task force on disability policy is established to:

(1) develop a comprehensive 10-year plan for this state's disability policy; and

(2) provide strategic recommendations for state policies to emphasize innovation, efficiency, and dignity for individuals with a disability who reside in this state.

Sec. 550A.0003. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed of:

(1) at least 17 voting members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) two members of the senate;

(B) two members of the house of representatives;

(C) at least two members who are or are related to someone who has a lived experience with:

(i) medical fragility or chronic complex medical needs;

(ii) autism;

(iii) mental health issues;

(iv) intellectual and developmental disabilities;

(v) transitional care services; or

(vi) physical disabilities;

(D) four members who are health care professionals;

(E) two members who represent relevant advocacy organizations;

(F) two members who represent institutions of higher education in this state; and

(G) three members who are policy experts specializing in health care, Medicaid services, special education, mental health care, or disability services;

(2) at least one nonvoting member appointed by the governor who is a representative of a local mental health authority or a local intellectual and developmental disability authority, as those terms are defined by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code; and

(3) additional nonvoting members as the task force considers necessary who represent:

(A) relevant state agencies, appointed by the executive head of each agency; and

(B) other interested persons or subject matter experts.

(b) The governor shall consult with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives in appointing task force members to ensure bipartisan representation, engagement of residents of this state, and diverse expertise on the task force.

Sec. 550A.0004. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer of the task force.

Sec. 550A.0005. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 550A.0006. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at least once each quarter at the call of the presiding officer.

(b) The task force shall provide opportunities for members of the public to participate in at least three meetings held at a variety of locations in this state each calendar year.

Sec. 550A.0007. SUBCOMMITTEES ON SPECIFIC ISSUES; REPORTS. (a) The task force shall establish subcommittees to address specific issues impacting individuals with a disability, including:

(1) health care;

(2) education;

(3) early childhood care;

(4) transitional care;

(5) crisis prevention and intervention;

(6) juvenile justice;

(7) mental health care;

(8) long-term community-based services and supports; and

(9) alternative funding sources and service delivery models for the issues described by Subdivisions (1)-(8).

(b) Each subcommittee must include:

(1) at least two task force members to serve as chair and vice-chair of the subcommittee; and

(2) subject matter experts in fields relevant to the subcommittee to provide specialized knowledge and guidance.

(c) Consistent with its purpose, each subcommittee shall:

(1) consult with relevant subject matter experts, advocacy organizations, state agency personnel, and parents or consumers who have used relevant services;

(2) report the subcommittee's determinations and recommendations at a task force meeting at least once each year; and

(3) biennially provide a written report with recommendations for integration into the task force report required under Section 550A.0010 not later than the 60th day before the date the report is scheduled for release.

Sec. 550A.0008. TASK FORCE PLAN. (a) The task force shall develop a plan for this state to address for each issue described in Section 550A.0007:

(1) this state's policies, services, programs, and funding mechanisms;

(2) redundancies in, allocations of, and uses of state resources;

(3) best practices in, trends of, and minimum standards of care;

(4) service delivery disparities, service provision entry points, and service provision obstacles;

(5) recommendations for policy integration among state agencies and innovative solutions to improve care and foster independence for residents who are provided care; and

(6) development of cost-effective, family-focused state policies that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and unified families and improve the care, quality, and efficiency of the provided care and services.

(b) In developing the plan under Subsection (a), the task force shall evaluate:

(1) outdated, redundant, ineffective, and fragmented state agency policies;

(2) current and future state agency policies regarding service provision and the planning and funding necessary to implement those policies;

(3) incentives for family-focused, quality outcome measures for provision of care and services;

(4) long-term or alternative funding sources and sustainable care models;

(5) long-term cost-effectiveness and a cost-benefit analysis of appropriate access to home and community-based services and other critical programs and services to unite families and provide care and services to individuals with a disability in the individuals' communities; and

(6) possible alternative service delivery options.

(c) In developing the plan under Subsection (a), the task force shall:

(1) identify the individual or state agency responsible for implementing each task specified in the plan and set a time for implementing each recommendation;

(2) establish benchmarks to measure the progress toward goals and objectives specified in the plan;

(3) consult with the Legislative Budget Board to coordinate relevant cost studies and account for long-term savings of short-term investments for the issues specified in the plan;

(4) consult with personnel from other states to identify best practices related to the specified issues;

(5) consult with the state demographer and relevant federal agencies to account for future demographic trends in addressing the specified issues;

(6) coordinate with federal and state agencies to compile a list of opportunities to increase flexible funding for services provided to individuals with a disability, including alternative funding sources and service delivery options;

(7) consult with pediatric specialists and other health care professionals to determine best medical practices for care provided to individuals with a disability;

(8) coordinate with mental health, education, and disability advocates;

(9) consider comments of interested persons, including testimony from parents in each health and human services region;

(10) consider current barriers that prevent this state from accomplishing each recommendation described by Section 550A.0010;

(11) consider additional resource needs;

(12) consider resource redirection for more efficient and effective service provision;

(13) propose recommendations for legislative or other action; and

(14) compose feasibility statements on related recommendations.

Sec. 550A.0009. COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. To assist with developing the plan under Section 550A.0008 and to leverage data-focused approaches and research in informing task force recommendations, the task force shall collaborate with:

(1) at least one institution of higher education in this state engaged in research relevant to the task force's duties described by Section 550A.0008; and

(2) health-related institutions of higher education in this state.

Sec. 550A.0010. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS. (a) The plan created under Section 550A.0008 must provide recommendations for the provision of disability services to:

(1) maximize the use of federal funds available to this state for the duties described by Section 550A.0008;

(2) reduce the number of families who experience crisis due to insufficient and ineffective interventions or services or lack of coordination and planning of interventions or services;

(3) improve families' ability to navigate this state's system of services through improved coordination between service providers and increased outreach;

(4) remove barriers to local coordination of services and supports;

(5) improve outcomes and family supports;

(6) improve early detection and intervention services;

(7) increase the number of community-based options for individuals with disabilities;

(8) improve accountability for each state agency represented on the task force and other service providers;

(9) reduce existing fragmentation of service delivery to reflect best practices and eliminate ineffective interventions;

(10) evaluate the feasibility of a third-party care coordinator for a legally authorized representative program to provide support services for individuals with disabilities;

(11) reduce service disparities and redundancies;

(12) improve data management;

(13) prevent unnecessary parental relinquishment of custody;

(14) create a core set of quality measures to determine quality of care and improvements to quality of life; and

(15) improve availability of superior community-based acute and long-term care services and supports.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2026, the task force shall submit a preliminary report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature. The preliminary report must outline initial determinations, recommendations, and priority areas for action and provide a plan for future legislation, policy changes, and implementation. The preliminary report must be published on the Internet website of each state agency represented on the task force.

(c) Not later than September 1, 2028, the task force shall submit a final report, including a comprehensive disability policy plan and strategic recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature. The final report must include:

(1) a review and analysis of current state agency programs, policies, procedures, and resource allocations related to the issues studied by the task force;

(2) identification of service delivery disparities, entry points to the state's system for service provision, and service obstacles;

(3) recommendations for innovative, cost-effective state policies and priority action areas;

(4) strategies to incentivize family-focused quality outcomes;

(5) metrics for evaluating state policy implementation and effectiveness;

(6) a review of alternative funding sources and service delivery models for the state's system; and

(7) a plan and proposed time for state policy changes and implementation.

Sec. 550A.0011. FUNDING. The task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to accomplish the purposes of the task force.

Sec. 550A.0012. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires and the task force is abolished September 1, 2028.

SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the task force on disability policy established by Section 550A.0002, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than September 30, 2025, the task force on disability policy established by Section 550A.0002, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial meeting.

(c) Not later than September 1, 2028, the task force on disability policy shall submit the plan required under Section 550A.0008, Government Code, as added by this Act, and the final report required under Section 550A.0010, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.