85R18292 JG-F
	By: Price, Bonnen of Galveston, Coleman,	H.B. No. 1486
	Collier, Sheffield, et al.

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to peer specialists, peer services, and the provision of
	those services under the medical assistance 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 531.0999 to read as follows:
	Sec. 531.0999.  PEER SPECIALISTS.  (a)  With input from
	mental health and substance use peer specialists and the work group
	described by Subsection (b), the commission shall develop and the
	executive commissioner shall adopt:
	(1)  rules that establish training requirements for
	peer specialists so that they are able to provide services to
	persons with mental illness or services to persons with substance
	use conditions;
	(2)  rules that establish certification and
	supervision requirements for peer specialists;
	(3)  rules that define the scope of services that peer
	specialists may provide;
	(4)  rules that distinguish peer services from other
	services that a person must hold a license to provide; and
	(5)  any other rules necessary to protect the health
	and safety of persons receiving peer services.
	(b)  The commission shall establish a stakeholder work group
	to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (a).
	The work group is composed of the following stakeholders appointed
	by the executive commissioner:
	(1)  one representative of each organization that
	certifies mental health and substance use peer specialists in this
	state;
	(2)  three representatives of organizations that
	employ mental health and substance use peer specialists;
	(3)  one mental health peer specialist who works in an
	urban area;
	(4)  one mental health peer specialist who works in a
	rural area;
	(5)  one substance use peer specialist who works in an
	urban area;
	(6)  one substance use peer specialist who works in a
	rural area;
	(7)  one person who trains mental health peer
	specialists;
	(8)  one person who trains substance use peer
	specialists;
	(9)  three representatives of mental health and
	addiction licensed health care professional groups who supervise
	mental health and substance use peer specialists;
	(10)  to the extent possible, not more than three
	persons with personal experience recovering from mental illness,
	substance use conditions, or co-occurring mental illness and
	substance use conditions; and
	(11)  any other persons considered appropriate by the
	executive commissioner.
	(c)  The executive commissioner shall appoint one member of
	the work group to serve as presiding officer.
	(d)  The work group shall meet once every month.
	(e)  The work group is automatically abolished on the
	adoption of rules under Subsection (a).
	(f)  The executive commissioner may not adopt rules under
	Subsection (a) that preclude the provision of mental health
	rehabilitative services under Subchapter A, Chapter 416, Title 25,
	Texas Administrative Code, as that subchapter existed on January 1,
	2017.
	(g)  If the executive commissioner has not adopted rules by
	September 1, 2018, the executive commissioner shall submit on that
	date a written report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
	speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of the Senate
	Health and Human Services Committee, and the chair of the House
	Public Health Committee explaining why the rules have not yet been
	adopted. This subsection expires September 1, 2019.
	SECTION 2.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
	by adding Subsection (kk) to read as follows:
	(kk)  The commission in its rules and standards governing the
	scope of services provided under the medical assistance program
	shall include peer services provided by certified peer specialists
	to the extent permitted by federal law.
	SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
	Services Commission shall:
	(1)  adopt the rules required by Section 531.0999(a),
	Government Code, as added by this Act; and
	(2)  appoint the members of the stakeholder work group
	established by Section 531.0999(b), Government Code, as added by
	this Act.
	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 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, 2017.