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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the supporting life pilot program |
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as part of the Thriving Texas Families Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 54, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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Chapter 1033 (S.B. 24), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2023, is amended by adding Section 54.012 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 54.012. SUPPORTING LIFE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Advisory board" means the supporting life pilot |
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program advisory board established under this section. |
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(2) "Pilot program" means the supporting life pilot |
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program established under this section. |
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(b) The commission shall establish the supporting life |
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pilot program to further the goals of the Thriving Texas Families |
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Program by contracting with service providers to provide care |
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coordination and support services to pregnant teenagers and by |
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establishing a centralized facility the commission owns and |
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operates for provision of services under the pilot program. The |
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commission shall operate the pilot program in a county with a |
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population of 4 million or more. |
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(c) The pilot program services must include: |
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(1) housing services; |
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(2) child care services for children 36 months of age |
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and younger; |
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(3) early childhood or prekindergarten educational |
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services; |
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(4) services provided by a community health worker, as |
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defined by Section 48.001; |
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(5) the provision of educational materials on |
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pregnancy and parenting; |
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(6) the provision of counseling and therapy services |
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for pregnant individuals and parents; |
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(7) the provision of parenting classes; |
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(8) services designed to support access to educational |
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opportunities for pregnant individuals and parents, including by |
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coordinating with counseling and planning services for trade or |
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vocational schools and institutions of higher education, as defined |
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by Section 61.003, Education Code; and |
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(9) the provision of group activities involving |
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community, educational, recreational, or social functions to |
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promote the health and well-being of families. |
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(d) The commission shall operate the pilot program in |
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consultation with the supporting life pilot program advisory board. |
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The advisory board is composed of five members appointed by the |
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executive commissioner. |
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(e) The commission, in consultation with the advisory |
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board, shall hire an executive director. The executive director |
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shall manage the pilot program, including hiring personnel and |
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managing a budget for the pilot program. |
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(f) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish |
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minimum qualifications for an individual serving as the executive |
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director under Subsection (e). |
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(g) To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, an |
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individual must: |
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(1) be 11 years of age or older but younger than 21 |
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years of age; |
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(2) be expecting a child or be the parent of a child |
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who is 36 months of age or younger; and |
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(3) have resided in the county in which the pilot |
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program operates for at least one year before applying to |
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participate in the pilot program. |
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(h) In evaluating applications for participation in the |
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pilot program, the commission, in consultation with the advisory |
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board, shall prioritize unhoused individuals who meet the |
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eligibility requirements described by Subsection (g). |
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(i) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission, |
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in consultation with the advisory board, shall prepare and submit |
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to the legislature a written report on: |
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(1) the outcomes of participants receiving services |
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under the pilot program; |
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(2) trends in the coordination of care and the use and |
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availability of support services with the implementation of the |
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pilot program; and |
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(3) any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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(j) The pilot program terminates, the advisory board is |
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abolished, and this section expires January 1, 2032. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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appoint the supporting life pilot program advisory board members as |
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required by Section 54.012(d), Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2027, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish the supporting life pilot program as required by Section |
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54.012, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, including by |
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adopting rules as necessary to implement that section. |
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SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 54.012(i), Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services |
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Commission and the supporting life pilot program advisory board |
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shall submit the first report required by that subsection not later |
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than December 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |