Community Living Bill Tracking

85th Legislative Session

The bills below could impact community living for people with disabilities in Texas.

Community Living Bills — Passed

Community Living bills passed during the 85th Texas Legislature
BILLAUTHORDESCRIPTION, REMARKS, LAST ACTION
HB 3292Stephanie KlickRelating to the temporary continuation of medical assistance for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
no datano dataRemarks: Requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to continue Medicaid eligibility to an individual with IDD after the expiration of their eligibility period if: 1) they receive Medicaid waiver services; 2) they receive services through STAR+PLUS Medicaid managed care; or 3) they reside in an intermediate care facility (ICF). This medical assistance will continue until either the end of a 90-day period, or the individual's medical assistance eligibility is restored if earlier.
no datano dataLast Action: 09-01-17 G Earliest effective date
HB 3295Stephanie KlickRelating to the delivery of certain Medicaid services to persons with an intellectual or developmental disability.
no datano dataRemarks: Requires the IDD Pilot authorized in 2013 to operate for at least 24 months and to expire in September 2019. Upon review of pilot outcomes, Texas Home Living waiver participants would transition to STAR+PLUS in 2020, rather than 2018.
no datano dataLast Action: 09-01-17 G Earliest effective date
SB 1326Judith ZaffiriniRelating to procedures regarding criminal defendants who are or may be persons with a mental illness or an intellectual disability.
no datano dataRemarks: Changes requirements following the arrest of individuals requiring assessment to determine mental health and/or IDD status and/or requiring competency restoration, including jail-based competency restoration, and promote release pending trial if the individual is not a danger to themselves or others. Will authorize HHSC to contract for jail-based competency restoration.
no datano dataLast Action: 09-01-17 G Earliest effective date

Community Living Bills — Not Passed

Community Living bills not passed during the 85th Texas Legislature
BILLAUTHORDESCRIPTION, REMARKS, LAST ACTION
SB 1997Kirk WatsonRelating to establishing a pilot program for professional support service provider services for persons who are deaf-blind.
no datano dataRemarks: Would have established a pilot program to provide support services for people who are deaf-blind to access their environments. Would have supported people to make informed decisions by providing visual and environmental information, sighted guide services, and communication accessibility in the person's preferred language and communication mode. The pilot would have been located in two counties where a significant deaf-blind population resides.
no datano dataLast Action: 03-27-17 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services
SB 2023Judith ZaffiriniRelating to the implementation of the community living options information process for residents of certain facilities.
no datano dataRemarks: Would have required local intellectual and developmental disability authorities (LIDDAs) to provide residents of medium and large private intermediate care facilities accurate, conflict-free information about the community living options available to them.
no datano dataLast Action: 03-27-17 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services
SB 2024Judith ZaffiriniRelating to the personal needs allowance for participants in home and community-based waiver programs.
no datano dataRemarks: Would have required HHSC to ensure Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCS) waiver participants control of a minimum monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) of at least $85 of their Social Security Administration monthly allotment.
no datano dataLast Action: 03-27-17 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services
SB 2165Judith ZaffiriniRelating to day habitation services for individuals with an intellectual disability.
no datano dataRemarks: Would have required HHSC to establish a registration process for day habilitation services providers that follow safety guidelines and minimum standards. Would have prohibited the co-location of day habilitation and sheltered work or a subminimum wage setting. Would have prohibited an entity from being both the employer of record of the Medicaid waiver participant and a day habilitation service provider of the participant.
no datano dataLast Action: 03-29-17 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services
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