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AN ACT
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relating to services provided to youth with disabilities |
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transitioning from school-oriented living to post-schooling |
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activities, services for adults, and community living. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02445 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02445. TRANSITION SERVICES FOR YOUTH WITH |
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DISABILITIES. (a) The executive commissioner shall monitor |
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programs and services offered through health and human services |
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agencies designed to assist youth with disabilities to transition |
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from school-oriented living to post-schooling activities, services |
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for adults, or community living. |
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(b) In monitoring the programs and services, the executive |
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commissioner shall: |
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(1) consider whether the programs or services result |
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in positive outcomes in the employment, community integration, |
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health, and quality of life of individuals with disabilities; and |
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(2) collect information regarding the outcomes of the |
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transition process as necessary to assess the programs and |
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services. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 117.058 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 117.058. SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES. |
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(a) The department shall establish and require employee |
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participation in a specialized training program for certain |
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employees, including vocational rehabilitation transition |
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specialists and transition counselors, whose duties involve |
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assisting youth with disabilities to transition to post-schooling |
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activities, services for adults, or community living. |
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(b) The training program must provide employees with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) supports and services available from other health |
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and human services agencies for: |
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(A) youth with disabilities who are |
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transitioning into post-schooling activities, services for adults, |
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or community living; and |
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(B) adults with disabilities; |
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(2) community resources available to improve the |
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quality of life for: |
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(A) youth with disabilities who are |
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transitioning into post-schooling activities, services for adults, |
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or community living; and |
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(B) adults with disabilities; and |
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(3) other available resources that may remove |
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transitional barriers for youth with disabilities who are |
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transitioning into post-schooling activities, services for adults, |
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or community living. |
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(c) In developing the training program required by this |
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section, the department shall collaborate with other health and |
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human services agencies as necessary. |
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SECTION 3. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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(2) "Health and human services agency" means a health |
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and human services agency listed in Section 531.001, Government |
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Code, that regulates the care or treatment of a resident of a |
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facility. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall establish a work group |
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to create and implement a plan to: |
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(1) ensure that an individual with a disability who is |
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transitioning into post-schooling activities, services for adults, |
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or community living has choices about the individual's work and |
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career and has the opportunity and support necessary to seek |
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individualized, competitive employment in the community; |
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(2) improve the collaboration between health and human |
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services agencies, other state agencies, and community and local |
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service providers to maximize existing supported employment |
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resources; and |
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(3) increase the quality and quantity of available |
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supported employment opportunities. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall determine the number |
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of members to serve on the work group. The executive commissioner |
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shall appoint as members of the work group: |
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(1) a representative of the Department of State Health |
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Services; |
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(2) a representative of the Department of Aging and |
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Disability Services; |
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(3) a representative of the Department of Assistive |
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and Rehabilitative Services; |
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(4) a representative of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission; |
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(5) a representative of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission; |
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(6) a representative of the Texas Education Agency; |
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(7) a representative who is a recognized expert on, or |
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who represents the interests of, youth with disabilities who are |
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transitioning to post-schooling activities, services for adults, |
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or community living; and |
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(8) additional members who are recognized experts on, |
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or who represent the interests of, individuals with disabilities, |
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including advocates, family members, physicians, providers of |
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1915(c) waiver services, employers currently offering supported |
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employment opportunities, and community and local service |
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providers with experience in supported employment. |
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(d) In developing the plan, the work group shall focus on: |
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(1) increasing the quality of services and resulting |
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employment outcomes across disabilities; and |
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(2) increasing the cooperation among agencies and |
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community providers in the development and provision of seamless |
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supported employment services. |
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(e) Not later than April 1, 2008, the work group shall file |
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its recommended plan with the executive commissioner. |
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(f) The executive commissioner: |
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(1) not later than November 1, 2007, shall establish |
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the work group under Subsection (b) of this section; |
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(2) not later than October 1, 2008, shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement the plan recommended by the work group; and |
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(3) not later than January 1, 2009, shall present to |
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the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of |
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representatives for consideration by the 81st Legislature a report |
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that describes the actions taken by the health and human services |
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agencies to implement the plan recommended by the work group and any |
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actions the agencies intend to take during the next biennium in |
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accordance with the recommended plan. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1230 was passed by the House on April |
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18, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1230 was passed by the Senate on May |
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17, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |