S.B. No. 50

	AN ACT
	relating to the Children's Policy Council, including the
	composition of the council.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subsections (a), (b), (e), (f), (g), (i), (j),
	(k), and (l), Section 22.035, Human Resources Code, are amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  A work group to be known as the Children's Policy
	Council shall assist the Department of Aging and Disability
	Services [department], the Health and Human Services Commission
	[commissioner of health and human services], the [Texas] Department
	of State Health Services, the [Texas] Department of Assistive and
	Rehabilitative Services [Mental Health and Mental Retardation],
	and the Department of Family and Protective [and Regulatory]
	Services in developing, implementing, and administering family
	support policies for children with disabilities relating to:
	(1)  [and related] long-term services and supports;
	(2)  health services; and
	(3)  mental [care and] health services [programs for
	children].
	(b)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission [health and human services] shall appoint the
	members of the work group, which must include the following:
	(1)  a person who is younger than 22 years of age and is
	a consumer of long-term care and health programs for children;
	(2)  an individual who is younger than 25 years of age
	and who receives or has received mental health services;
	(3)  relatives of consumers of long-term care and
	health programs for children 26 years of age or younger;
	(4) [(3)]  a representative from an organization that
	is an advocate for consumers of long-term care and health programs
	for children;
	[(4)     a representative from a state agency that
	provides long-term care and health programs for children;]
	(5)  a person from a private entity that provides
	long-term care and health programs for children;
	(6)  a person from a public entity that provides
	long-term care and health programs for children;
	(7)  a person with expertise in the availability of
	funding and the application of funding formulas for children's
	long-term care and health services;
	(8)  a representative from a faith-based organization;
	(9)  a representative from a nonspecialized community
	services organization; and
	(10)  a representative from a business that is not
	related to providing services to persons with disabilities.
	(e)  The Health and Human Services Commission [department
	and the Texas Department of Health] shall [equally] provide
	administrative support, including staff, to the work group.
	(f)  A member of the work group serves at the will of the
	executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
	[health and human services].
	(g)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission [health and human services] shall appoint a
	member of the work group to serve as a presiding officer.
	(i)  A member of the work group receives no additional
	compensation for serving on the work group. Consumers and
	relatives of consumers serving on the work group shall be
	reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessary for
	participation as provided in the General Appropriations Act. Other
	members of the work group may not be reimbursed for travel or other
	expenses incurred while conducting the business of the work group.
	Reimbursement under this subsection shall be paid equally out of
	funds appropriated to the Department of Aging and Disability
	Services [department] and funds appropriated to the [Texas]
	Department of State Health Services.
	(j)  The work group may [shall] study and make
	recommendations in the following areas:
	(1)  access of a child or a child's family to effective
	case management services, including case management services with a
	single case manager, parent case managers, or independent case
	managers;
	(2)  the transition needs of children who reach an age
	at which they are no longer eligible for services at the [Texas]
	Department of State Health Services, the Texas Education Agency,
	and other applicable state agencies;
	(3)  the blending of funds, including case management
	funding, for children needing long-term care, [and] health
	services, and mental health services;
	(4)  collaboration and coordination of children's
	services between the Department of Aging and Disability Services
	[department], the [Texas] Department of State Health Services, the
	[Texas] Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the
	Department of Family and Protective Services [Mental Health and
	Mental Retardation], and any other agency determined to be
	applicable by the work group;
	(5)  budgeting and the use of funds appropriated for
	children's long-term care services, [and children's] health
	services, and mental health services;
	(6)  services and supports for families providing care
	for children with disabilities;
	(7)  effective permanency planning for children who
	reside in institutions or who are at risk of placement in an
	institution;
	(8)  barriers to enforcement of regulations regarding
	institutions that serve children with disabilities; and
	(9)  the provision of services under the medical
	assistance program to children younger than 23 years of age with
	disabilities or special health care needs under a waiver granted
	under Section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
	Section 1396n(c)).
	(k)  Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,
	the work group shall report on its findings and recommendations to
	the legislature and the executive commissioner of the Health and
	Human Services Commission [health and human services].
	(l)  After evaluating and considering recommendations
	reported under Subsection (k), the executive commissioner of the
	Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement
	guidelines for providing long-term care, [and] health services, and
	mental health services to children with disabilities.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (f), Section 531.159, Government
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(f)  The commission by rule shall develop procedures by which
	to conduct the reviews required by Subsections (c), (d), and (e).
	In developing the procedures, the commission may [shall] seek input
	from the work group on children's long-term services, [care and]
	health services, and mental health services [programs] established
	under Section 22.035, Human Resources Code.
	SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
	this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission shall appoint three additional members to the
	Children's Policy Council.  In appointing members, the executive
	commissioner shall consider appointing members with expertise in
	mental health services.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 50 passed the Senate on
	March 13, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 50 passed the House on
	May 14, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor