Advocacy Opportunities & Resources: STAR+PLUS Pilot Program Amendment

Published: Fri, 04/07/23

Advocacy Opportunities & Resources

Welcome to our Advocacy Opportunities & Resources email detailing updates from the Texas Legislature as well as available opportunities and resources of interest to members of The Arc of Texas. The opportunities and resources listed below are related to issues that could have an impact on Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). All times are listed in Central Daylight Time.

Legislative Updates

Committee Hearings

The following section includes a sample of the hearings that we are monitoring next week. During these hearings, legislative committees will consider the important disability-related bills highlighted below. You can find live and archived broadcasts of committee hearings on the House and Senate websites. For a complete list of the bills we are following visit our website.

Monday, April 10

House Higher Education | Public Hearing Notice

10:00 AM | E2.010

HB 2920 | Relating to the information maintained by the Texas Education Agency regarding postsecondary education and career opportunities. (Rep. Paul)

House Select on Youth Health and Safety | Public Hearing Notice

2:30 PM or upon adjournment | E2.026

HB 3867 | Relating to notification and documentation requirements regarding certain behavior management for a student enrolled in a special education program of a public school. (Rep. Bucy)

Tuesday, April 11

House Human Services | Public Hearing Notice

8:00 AM | E2.030

HB 1219 | Relating to criminal history record information checks for applicants for employment and employees of group homes. (Rep. Reynolds)
HB 1667 | Relating to the reporting of child abuse or neglect. (Rep. Jetton)
HB 4220 | Relating to the office of the state long-term care ombudsman. (Rep. Clardy)
HB 4351 | Relating to the training program required for certain employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services. (Rep. Noble)
HB 4629 | Relating to the terms and qualifications of members on the Intellectual and Developmental Disability System Redesign Advisory Committee. (Rep. Klick)
HB 4696 | Relating to transferring certain investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation to the Health and Human Services Commission and the on-site investigation and survey of certain providers. (Rep. Noble)

House Insurance | Public Hearing Notice

8:00 AM | E2.014

HB 134 | Relating to coverage for childhood cranial remolding orthosis under certain health benefit plans. (Rep. Bernal)

House Public Education | Public Hearing Notice

8:00 AM | E2.036

HB 3781 | Relating to special education in public schools, including the special education allotment under the Foundation School Program, an education savings account program for certain children with disabilities. (Rep. Jetton)
HB 4340 | Relating to the establishment of the Education Savings Account Program to allow certain children to use public money to pursue educational alternatives to public schools and an insurance premium tax credit. (Rep. Frank)

Senate State Affairs | Public Hearing Notice

9:00 AM | Senate Chamber

SB 1606 | Relating to evidence and orders regarding intellectual disability or mental condition in certain guardianship proceedings. (Sen. Zaffirini)
SB 1624 | Relating to guardianships, alternatives to guardianship, and supports and services for incapacitated persons. (Sen. Zaffirini)

House Criminal Jurisprudence | Public Hearing Notice

10:30 AM or upon adjournment | E2.016

HB 4164 | Relating to the improper use and treatment of an assistance animal or service animal. (Rep. Cortez)
HB 5206 | Relating to falsely representing that an animal is a service animal. (Rep. Goodwin)

Senate Criminal Justice | Public Hearing Notice

1:30 PM or upon adjournment | E1.016

SB 1401 | Relating to the rights of victims of sexual assault and to certain procedures and reimbursements occurring with respect to a sexual assault or other sex offense. (Sen. Zaffirini)
SB 1585 | Relating to certain proceedings in juvenile court for children with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. (Sen. Sparks)

House Homeland Security and Public Safety | Public Hearing Notice

2:00 PM or upon adjournment | E2.012

HB 2650 | Relating to the continuation and duties of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force and establishment of a mandatory training program for peace officers on responding to reports of child sexual abuse. (Rep. Howard)
HB 2670 | Relating to the composition of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force and to compensation fortask force members and certain other task force participants. (Rep. Howard)

Wednesday, April 12

House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence | Public Hearing Notice

8:00 AM | E2.016

HB 4611 | Relating to the non-substantive revision of the health and human services laws governing the Health and Human Services Commission, Medicaid, and other social services. (Rep. Price)

Senate Health and Human Services | Public Hearing Notice

8:30 AM or upon adjournment | Senate Chamber

SB 186 | Relating to the prohibited discharge of a patient to certain unlicensed or unpermitted group-centered facilities. (Sen. Miles)
SB 189 | Relating to the creation of a criminal offense concerning the failure of certain persons to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation in boarding home facilities. (Sen. Miles)
SB 2468 | Relating to a study regarding available beds at inpatient mental health facilities providing acute psychiatric treatment. (Sen. Eckhardt)

House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues | Public Hearing Notice

10:30 AM or upon adjournment | E2.030

HB 3446 | Relating to court-ordered financial support by parents of an adult with a medically determinable disability. (Rep. Dutton)

Thursday, April 13

House Culture, Recreation & Tourism | Public Hearing Notice

8:00 AM | E2.012

HB 2943 | Relating to designating October 17 as Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Day. (Rep. Janie Lopez)

House Elections | Public Hearing Notice

10:30 AM or upon adjournment | E2.016

HB 1243 | Relating to the penalty for the offense of illegal voting. (Rep. Hefner)

STAR+PLUS Pilot Program Implementation Adopted in House Bill 1
An amendment to House Bill (HB) 1 by Representative Klick was adopted during consideration of the House’s version of the budget Thursday. The amendment provides for the implementation of the STAR+PLUS Pilot Program, which is intended to pilot services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or similar functional needs for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) within Medicaid Managed Care. $16.5 million for state fiscal year 2024 and 2025 was adopted, to serve a maximum of 4,000 people who are currently waiting on a Home and Community-based Services (HCS) waiver or Texas Home Living (TxHmL) waiver.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 1

Meet The Arc Cold Brew Social April 12

Join us in the Legislative Conference Center (Room E2.002) at the Texas Capitol from 11AM to 1PM. Members and local chapters of The Arc of Texas will gather to share information and resources with legislative staffers over cold brew coffee and pastries. We look forward to seeing you there.

Advocacy Resources

The Arc of Texas’ Advocacy One-Pagers
Want to know more about what is happening at the Texas Legislature? Browse these policy one-pagers for more information you can use.

Advocacy Opportunities

HHSC Seeks Members for IDD Redesign Committee
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is looking for applicants to join the Intellectual and Developmental Disability System Redesign Advisory Committee. The committee advises HHSC on the system redesign for acute care services and long-term services and supports for Texans with developmental disabilities (DD). This is an opportunity for disability advocates to share their input and experience with issues related to the redesign of service systems in Texas. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CT on April 21.

This email was sent to .

You are receiving this email because you subscribed on our website or are an active member or donor to The Arc of Texas.

Want to change how you receive these emails? Use the links below to update your preferences or unsubscribe.

8001 Centre Park Dr
Suite 100
Austin TX 78754
USA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options