Bill Text: TX HB1564 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the provision of certain support services to persons who are deaf-blind.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-16 - Left pending in committee [HB1564 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB1564-Introduced.html
86R8550 KLA-F | ||
By: Hinojosa | H.B. No. 1564 |
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relating to the provision of certain support services to persons | ||
who are deaf-blind. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 81.001, Human Resources Code, is amended | ||
by adding Subdivision (1) to read as follows: | ||
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services | ||
Commission. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 81, Human Resources Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 81.014 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 81.014. SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WHO ARE | ||
DEAF-BLIND. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Communication mode" includes communication | ||
through: | ||
(A) auditory amplification, such as through a | ||
personal hearing aid or assistive listening device; | ||
(B) American Sign Language or Signed English; and | ||
(C) tactile American Sign Language. | ||
(2) "Deaf-blind support services" means services | ||
provided to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person with | ||
accessing the person's environment and allow the person to make | ||
informed decisions. The term includes providing visual and | ||
environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting | ||
with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred | ||
language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind. | ||
The term does not include performing any of the following for the | ||
person: | ||
(A) providing personal care services to the | ||
person; | ||
(B) completing ordinary errands for the person; | ||
(C) making decisions for the person; | ||
(D) teaching or otherwise instructing the | ||
person; or | ||
(E) interpreting for the person in a formal | ||
setting, including a medical, legal, or business setting. | ||
(3) "Program" means the deaf-blind support services | ||
program. | ||
(4) "Provider of deaf-blind support services" means a | ||
person who is specially trained to provide deaf-blind support | ||
services. | ||
(b) The commission shall operate a statewide deaf-blind | ||
support services program through which: | ||
(1) deaf-blind support services are provided by | ||
providers of deaf-blind support services; and | ||
(2) the commission reimburses the providers for the | ||
provision of the services. | ||
(c) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish | ||
reimbursement rates to be paid to a provider of deaf-blind support | ||
services under the program. The reimbursement rates must use a | ||
tiered wage scale that is based on the provider's: | ||
(1) level of training in communication modes for | ||
persons who are deaf-blind and in sighted guide-mobility | ||
techniques; and | ||
(2) fluency in communication modes for persons who are | ||
deaf-blind. | ||
(d) The commission shall ensure that quality deaf-blind | ||
support services are provided under the program by: | ||
(1) monitoring the compliance of providers of | ||
deaf-blind support services with program rules; | ||
(2) developing funding sources for the program that | ||
are in addition to state sources and will reduce reliance on the | ||
state sources for continuation of the program; and | ||
(3) providing funding and technical assistance for | ||
training programs for: | ||
(A) providers of deaf-blind support services | ||
under the program; and | ||
(B) persons who are deaf-blind to enable those | ||
persons to effectively use the services offered under the program. | ||
(e) The executive commissioner may establish an advisory | ||
committee to advise the commission in developing and operating the | ||
program, including operating the program in a manner that ensures | ||
the efficient use of state money. Subject to Section 2110.002, | ||
Government Code, the executive commissioner shall determine the | ||
number of members serving on the advisory committee, which must | ||
include persons who are deaf-blind and other stakeholders. | ||
(f) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary | ||
to: | ||
(1) operate the program in a manner that is efficient | ||
and maximizes the number of persons served; and | ||
(2) ensure that providers of deaf-blind support | ||
services receiving reimbursement under the program have adequate | ||
training to provide those services. | ||
SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2020: | ||
(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human | ||
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement | ||
Section 81.014, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act; and | ||
(2) the commission shall begin operating the program | ||
required by that section. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |