TITLE: Relating to the provision of employment assistance and supported employment to certain Medicaid waiver program participants.

SUMMARY: Relating to the provision of employment assistance and supported employment to certain Medicaid waiver program participants.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the provision of employment assistance and supported employment to certain Medicaid waiver program participants. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.075 to read as follows: Sec. 32.075. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT. (a) In this section: (1) "Employment assistance" means assistance provided to an individual to help the individual locate paid employment in the community. Employment assistance includes: (A) identifying an individual's employment preferences, job skills, and requirements for a work setting and work conditions; (B) locating prospective employers offering employment compatible with an individual's identified preferences, skills, and requirements; and (C) contacting a prospective employer on behalf of an individual and negotiating the individual's employment. (2) "Supported employment" means assistance provided, in order to sustain paid employment, to an individual who, because of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting at which individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported employment includes adaptations, supervision, and training related to an individual's diagnosis. (b) This section applies only to the following medical assistance waiver programs: (1) the community based alternatives program; (2) the community living assistance and support services program; (3) the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities program; (4) the home and community-based services program; (5) the medically dependent children program; (6) the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program; (7) the Texas home living program; and (8) the youth empowerment services program. (c) The department shall provide employment assistance and supported employment to participants in the waiver programs identified in Subsection (b). SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement this Act. The commission may delay implementing this Act until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 3. 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.