Bill Text: TX SB609 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a voluntary home nursing visitation program for newborns.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-17 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB609 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB609-Introduced.html

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88R4602 SCL-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 609

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a voluntary home nursing visitation program for
newborns.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. VOLUNTARY HOME NURSING VISITATION PROGRAM FOR
NEWBORNS
Sec. 32.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Community" means a group of individuals within a
geographic region or county, including a tribe or other group of
individuals, living in proximity as determined by executive
commissioner rule.
(2) "Program" means the voluntary statewide home
nursing visitation program established by this subchapter.
Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission
shall design, implement, and maintain a voluntary statewide home
nursing visitation program for all eligible individuals with
newborns residing in this state to support healthy child
development and strengthen families.
(b) In designing the program, the commission shall:
(1) ensure the program is flexible in meeting the
needs of the communities in which the program operates; and
(2) as necessary, consult and collaborate with health
benefit plan issuers that offer health benefit plans in this state,
hospitals, local public health authorities, existing early
childhood home visitation programs, community-based organizations,
and social service providers.
Sec. 32.203. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for
participation in the program, an individual must apply to the
commission in the form and manner prescribed by executive
commissioner rule and:
(1) must be:
(A) 18 to 44 years of age; or
(B) 15 to 17 years of age and:
(i) have the disabilities of minority
removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code; or
(ii) apply with the consent of the
individual's parent, legal guardian, or managing conservator;
(2) must be a United States citizen or permanent legal
resident;
(3) must be a resident of this state;
(4) may not have health benefit plan coverage that
covers family planning services; and
(5) must have a monthly maximum family income in an
amount that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty
level.
Sec. 32.204. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. The program must
provide to eligible individuals home nursing visitation services
that:
(1) are based on criteria established by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services for an
evidence-based early childhood home visitation service delivery
model;
(2) are provided by registered nurses licensed in this
state to families of individuals caring for newborns up to six
months of age, including foster and adoptive newborns;
(3) are provided in the individual's home;
(4) are focused on improving outcomes in one or more of
the following:
(A) child health;
(B) child development and school readiness;
(C) family economic self-sufficiency;
(D) maternal health;
(E) positive parenting;
(F) reduction of child mistreatment;
(G) reduction of juvenile delinquency;
(H) reduction of family violence; and
(I) reduction of crime;
(5) are voluntary and do not impose negative
consequences on an individual who participates or declines to
participate;
(6) are offered in every community in this state;
(7) include an evidence-based assessment of the
physical, social, and emotional factors affecting the individual's
family;
(8) are offered to all individuals with newborns
residing in the community in which the program operates and the
families of the individuals;
(9) include at least one visit before the newborn is
three months old with the opportunity for not more than three
additional visits;
(10) include a follow-up visit not later than the
third month after the initial visit; and
(11) provide information and referrals to address each
family's identified needs.
Sec. 32.205. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT; DATA SHARING. The
commission shall:
(1) collect and analyze data generated by the program
to assess the effectiveness of the program in improving the
outcomes described by Section 32.204(4); and
(2) collaborate with other state agencies to develop
protocols for sharing data, including the timely sharing of data
with primary care providers who are providing care to the
individuals with newborns receiving services under the program and
their families.
SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Subchapter G, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
Act, not later than January 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission may apply to the United States secretary
of health and human services to obtain a waiver under 42 U.S.C.
Section 18052 to obtain federal financial participation in the cost
of services provided under the voluntary statewide home nursing
visitation program established by Subchapter G, Chapter 32, Health
and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.