Approximately 2,600 bills have been filed by Texas lawmakers thus far. This week we look at five disability-related issues being considered at the State Capitol:
Bills of Interest
HB 729 by Rep. Toni Rose
HB 729 creates the Statewide Intellectual and Developmental Disability Coordinating Council. The Council will work to develop a coordinated, interagency approach to providing IDD services for the state. They will develop and implement a five year IDD services strategic plan, propose statewide budgets for IDD services, publish an inventory of all IDD services in the state, and report how many individuals are receiving IDD
services. The Council’s membership will consist of officials from various state agencies (HHSC, TEA, DFPS), public universities, the Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, TCDD, The Arc of Texas, representatives of providers, self-advocates, and policy experts.
HB 1798 by Rep. Donna Howard
The state
frequently engages in long-term strategic planning to ensure it meets and achieves its policy goals. Be it in roadbuilding, higher education, or workforce development, long-term strategic planning is the standard. However, the long-term strategic planning has never been applied to home and community-based services. HB 1798 directs the Health and Human Services Commission to create a strategic plan to ensure adequate access to services, assess unmet needs, and create standards for services.
Additionally, the bill will create a public advisory committee to aid the commission in the creation of the plan.
HB 133 by Rep. Mary Gonzalez
After a recent rash of school staff arrests for violence against Texas children with disabilities, advocates have called for the elimination of violent restraints of students. Prone
and supine restraints of students with disabilities have resulted in trauma, injury, and even death. HB 133 prohibits the use of prone or supine restraints on students with disabilities.
SB 656 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini
HB 656 would allow driver’s license holders to disclose certain health conditions or disabilities on their license. This disclosure is designed to ease and clarify communications with peace
officers.
HB 54 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson
Currently, residents of various long-term care facilities receive a personal needs allowance of $60 per month. This is generally used to purchase personal goods and services that are not provided by the facilities or Medicaid, such as toiletries, shoes, clothing, haircuts, or even cell phones. The allowance is deducted from the regular care payments to the facilities and funded
by both state and federal dollars. The rate of the allowance is set by the executive commissioner of HHSC, but the minimum rate is set by law and total funding is decided by the Legislature. The minimum allowance has not been raised since 2007 when legislation increased it from $45 per month to $60 per month. HB 54 would increase the personal needs allowance for a resident in a long-term care facility to at least $85 a month. These facilities include nursing facilities, assisted living
facilities, intermediate care facilities, and other similar long-term care facilities that administer medical assistance.