Bill Text: TX HB788 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a task force to study access to legal services for persons with disabilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-28 - Referred to Human Services [HB788 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB788-Introduced.html
| 88R3343 AMF-F | ||
| By: Meza | H.B. No. 788 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to a task force to study access to legal services for | ||
| persons with disabilities. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. TASK FORCE. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, | ||
| a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least | ||
| one major life activity of that individual. | ||
| (2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive | ||
| commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
| (3) "Task force" means the task force established by | ||
| this section. | ||
| (b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force | ||
| to study access to legal services for persons with disabilities. | ||
| (c) The task force is composed of seven members as follows: | ||
| (1) five members appointed by the executive | ||
| commissioner, including: | ||
| (A) at least two members who are adults with | ||
| disabilities; and | ||
| (B) at least two members who are parents of | ||
| children with disabilities; and | ||
| (2) two members who represent Disability Rights Texas. | ||
| (d) The executive commissioner shall designate a task force | ||
| member as the presiding officer of the task force. | ||
| (e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call | ||
| of the presiding officer and at other times the presiding officer | ||
| determines. | ||
| (f) The task force shall study access to legal services for | ||
| persons with disabilities. The study must examine and make | ||
| recommendations regarding: | ||
| (1) the availability of legal representation for | ||
| persons with disabilities; | ||
| (2) the availability of advocacy and legal services | ||
| for persons with disabilities; and | ||
| (3) the barriers to accessing legal services for | ||
| persons with disabilities, including communication, financial, | ||
| medical, and cognitive barriers. | ||
| (g) The task force shall develop and submit a written report | ||
| of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the | ||
| Health and Human Services Commission, the governor, the lieutenant | ||
| governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each | ||
| member of the legislature not later than December 1, 2024. | ||
| (h) The task force may develop instructional and training | ||
| materials for legal professionals and persons with disabilities | ||
| relating to legal issues affecting persons with disabilities. | ||
| (i) The task force may partner with or seek and accept | ||
| assistance from voluntary organizations active in supporting | ||
| persons with disabilities. | ||
| (j) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1, | ||
| 2025. | ||
| SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
| immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
| elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
| Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
| immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
