bill adding peer support specialists to Medicaid

The text as introduced · 594 words

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.