Bill Text: TX SB2139 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-27 - Co-author authorized [SB2139 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB2139-Introduced.html
| 86R6378 KFF-F | ||
| By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 2139 | |
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| relating to the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver | ||
| program. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 531.09731 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 531.09731. MINIMUM REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR CERTAIN | ||
| PROVIDERS UNDER DEAF-BLIND WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES WAIVER | ||
| PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish minimum | ||
| reimbursement rates for interveners and orientation and mobility | ||
| specialists providing services under the deaf-blind with multiple | ||
| disabilities waiver program. The rates established under this | ||
| section must: | ||
| (1) take into account the provider's level of | ||
| training, education, and experience; and | ||
| (2) be adjusted annually for inflation. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 161.078, Human Resources Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
| (c) The executive commissioner shall increase the number of | ||
| persons receiving home-based and community-based services under | ||
| the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program by: | ||
| (1) 50 for each of the state fiscal years ending August | ||
| 31, 2020, and August 31, 2021; and | ||
| (2) for each subsequent state fiscal year beginning | ||
| with the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, 10 percent of the | ||
| number of recipients on the interest list for home-based and | ||
| community-based services under the deaf-blind with multiple | ||
| disabilities waiver program as determined on the first day of the | ||
| applicable state fiscal year and rounded to the nearest whole | ||
| number. | ||
| SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human | ||
| Services Commission shall adopt the rules required under Section | ||
| 531.09731, Government Code, as added by this Act, and ensure that | ||
| the minimum reimbursement rates established for interveners and | ||
| orientation and mobility specialists under the deaf-blind with | ||
| multiple disabilities waiver program are based on the most recent | ||
| full rate analysis conducted by the commission. | ||
| SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
| a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
| federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
| the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
| authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
| waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
