This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

 
 
  S.B. No. 944
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the commitment order for individuals with intellectual
  disabilities who are committed to state supported living centers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 593.013, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 593.013.  [REQUIREMENT OF] INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM
  RECOMMENDATION.
         SECTION 2.  Section 593.013(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 593.0511, a [A] person may
  not be admitted or committed to a residential care facility unless
  an interdisciplinary team recommends that placement.
         SECTION 3.  Section 593.041(d), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Except as provided by Section 593.0511, a [A] person may
  not be committed to the department for placement in a residential
  care facility under this subchapter unless a report by an
  interdisciplinary team recommending the placement has been
  completed during the six months preceding the date of the court
  hearing on the application.  If the report and recommendations have
  not been completed or revised during that period, the court shall
  order the report and recommendations on receiving the application.
         SECTION 4.  Section 593.050(d), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  The Texas Rules of Evidence apply.  The results of the
  determination of an intellectual disability and the current
  interdisciplinary team report and recommendations, except in the
  case of a long-term placement under Section 593.0511, shall be
  presented in evidence.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter C, Chapter 593, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 593.0511 to read as follows:
         Sec. 593.0511.  LONG-TERM PLACEMENT WITHOUT
  INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM RECOMMENDATION.  A court may commit a
  proposed resident to long-term placement in a residential care
  facility without an interdisciplinary team recommendation under
  Section 593.013 if the court determines beyond a reasonable doubt
  that the proposed resident meets the requirements for commitment to
  a residential care facility under Section 593.052.
         SECTION 6.  Section 593.052(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A proposed resident may not be committed to a
  residential care facility unless:
               (1)  the proposed resident is a person with an
  intellectual disability;
               (2)  a petition to the court to issue a commitment order
  by the guardian of the proposed resident or, if the proposed
  resident is a minor, the parent of the proposed resident or the
  current interdisciplinary team report and recommendations, if
  applicable, show [evidence is presented showing] that because of
  the proposed resident's intellectual disability, the proposed
  resident:
                     (A)  represents a substantial risk of physical
  impairment or injury to the proposed resident or others; or
                     (B)  is unable to provide for and is not providing
  for the proposed resident's most basic personal physical needs;
               (3)  the proposed resident cannot be adequately and
  appropriately habilitated in an available, less restrictive
  setting; and
               (4)  the residential care facility provides
  habilitative services, care, training, and treatment appropriate
  to the proposed resident's needs.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 944 passed the Senate on
  April 3, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 19, 2023, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 944 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 16, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 134,
  Nays 8, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor