HB1941 - Relating to peer support specialists for certain individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability and peer services for those individuals under Medicaid.

  89R6628 RAL-F     By: Campos H.B. No. 1941       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to peer support specialists for certain individuals with   an intellectual or developmental disability and peer services for   those individuals under Medicaid.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 547, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 547.00031 to   read as follows:           Sec.   547.00031.     PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS FOR CERTAIN   INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.   (a)     With input from intellectual and developmental disability peer   support specialists and the stakeholder work group described by   Subsection (c), the commission shall develop and the executive   commissioner shall adopt:                 (1)     rules to establish accessible and validated   training requirements for peer support specialists who provide   services to individuals with an intellectual or developmental   disability;                 (2)     rules that establish certification and   supervision requirements for intellectual and developmental   disability peer support specialists to ensure compliance with this   section;                 (3)     rules that define the scope of services an   intellectual and developmental disability peer support specialist   may provide;                 (4)     rules that distinguish peer support services for   individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability from   other services that require the provider to hold a license or   certification; and                 (5)     any other rules necessary to protect the health   and safety of individuals receiving peer support services.           (b)     The rules adopted under Subsection (a) do not apply to   the provision of peer support services to residents of a state   supported living center, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and   Safety Code.           (c)     The commission shall establish a stakeholder work group   to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (a).   The work group is composed of the following stakeholders appointed   by the executive commissioner:                 (1)     at least one mental health and substance use   disorder peer support specialist;                 (2)     at least one intellectual and developmental   disability peer support specialist;                 (3)  a representative of each of the following:                       (A)     the commission's Peer and Recovery Services   Programs, Planning, and Policy unit;                       (B)     the commission's Office of Disability   Services Coordination;                       (C)     the Texas Council for Developmental   Disabilities;                       (D)  Texas Parent to Parent; and                       (E)  Texas Advocates; and                 (4)     a person who is certified as a trainer by the   Learning Community for Person Centered Practices under the People   Planning Together program.           (d)     The executive commissioner shall appoint one member of   the work group to serve as presiding officer.           (e)  The work group shall meet once every month.           (f)     The work group is automatically abolished on the   adoption of rules under Subsection (a).          SECTION 2.  Section 32.024(kk), Human Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (kk)  The commission in its rules and standards governing the   scope of services provided under the medical assistance program   shall include peer services provided by certified peer specialists ,   including peer support services provided to individuals with an   intellectual or developmental disability, to the extent permitted   by federal law.          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human   Services Commission shall appoint the members of the stakeholder   work group established by Section 547.00031(c), Government Code, as   added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act   a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a   federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,   the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or   authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the   waiver or authorization is granted.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.