HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1834        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 78

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mark J. Cusack

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to support the transition to adult services for persons with disabilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1834        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 78

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 87 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act to support the transition to adult services for persons with disabilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1: The definition of “Disabled person” in Section 12A of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, lines 3 through 9, is hereby amended by striking this paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:

“Person with a disability”, a person with a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment, or any individual listed on the registry of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

Said Section 12A of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is further amended by inserting the following definition:

"Substantial impediment to employment" refers to a physical or mental impairment which, in light of attendant medical, psychological, vocational, educational and other related factors impedes an individual's occupational performance by preventing his/her obtaining, retaining, or preparing for employment consistent with his/her capacities and abilities.

Said Section 12A of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is further amended by striking the definition of “substantial gainful activity.”

Said Section 12A is further amended by striking “disabled person” on line 14 within the definition of “Habilitative services” and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with a disability

Said Section 12A is further amended by striking “disabled person” on line 32 within the definition of “transition plan” and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with a disability

Section 12B of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is amended by striking “disabled persons” on line 26 and inserting in place thereof the words –

persons with disabilities

Section 12C of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 1 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 16 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 29 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 41 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 52 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B as is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 60-61 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 69 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with disability

Said Section 12C of chapter 71B is amended by striking “disabled person” on line 87 and inserting in place thereof the words –

person with a disability

SECTION 2: The definition of “Habilitative services” in Section 12A of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is hereby amended inserting a second sentence as follows:

Habilitative services shall also include, when necessary, instruction in independent living skills and functional life skills, independent or supportive housing, preparation for postsecondary education, preparation for individualized and integrated competitive or supported employment, and training in self-advocacy.

SECTION 3: Section 12C of chapter 71B, second paragraph, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding a third sentence which follows:

When such application is required, the bureau, or such other agency as may be providing a transition plan on its behalf, shall also provide training, assistance or referrals to students, parents and school regarding work incentive programs administered by the Social Security Administration for persons receiving disability benefits.

SECTION 4: Section 2 of chapter 71B as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following paragraphs:

Said transition services to be provided by the school shall be closely coordinated with habilitative services provided by the bureau of transition planning of the executive office of health and human services, pursuant to section 12C of chapter 71B. To facilitate this coordination, with the consent of the parents or a child who has reached the age of majority, the child’s school committee, with no less than 21 calendar days’ notice, shall invite to the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting a representative of the bureau of transition planning or any participating adult service agency identified by the bureau that is known by the school to be responsible for services pursuant to 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(1)(D) or section 12C of chapter 71B. In the event that there is no participating adult service agency known to be responsible for services, the special education director or administrator employed by the school committee, or his or her designee, shall contact the bureau of transition planning before sending this invitation. The bureau shall respond, to the extent practicable, by designating and identifying an adult services agency, or shall attend the IEP meeting on behalf of the executive office of health and human services. Such representative shall attend at least one such IEP meeting for purposes of facilitating transition planning, no later than two years before either the date the student is anticipated to graduate from high school, or turn age twenty-two, whichever date is earlier. By agreement of all participants, an Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) meeting to discuss services to be provided by any designated adult services agency may be held concurrently with Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting. The identification of services in an Individualized Transition Plan (ITP), or the provision of other services provided by the bureau of transition planning or an agency acting on its behalf, shall not be deemed to alter any existing obligation of the local educational agency under state or federal law. If a participating agency, other than the local educational agency, fails to provide the transition services described in the IEP, the local educational agency shall reconvene the IEP Team to identify alternative strategies to meet the transition objectives for the child set out in the IEP. When a child is graduating or attaining the age of 22, whichever occurs first, the school shall provide to the student and to the participating agency a summary of the child’s academic achievement and functional performance, which shall include recommendations on how to assist the child in meeting the child’s postsecondary goals.

SECTION 5: Subject to appropriation, notwithstanding other provisions of the General Laws, the Department of Developmental Services shall develop and administer a discretionary demonstration program to provide, as part of a pilot project, services which are parallel in scope to programs of “community intellectual disability services” pursuant to Sections 12 and 13 of the Chapter 19B of the General Laws. This program shall be limited to persons turning 22 (i.e., ages 20 to 24) with developmental disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities who are not eligible for any adult services pursuant to M.G.L. c. 123B and regulations promulgated thereunder”. The pilot project shall be administered consistent with appropriations and shall be limited to individuals who meet the developmental disabilities definition under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Amendments Act of 2000, 42 U.S.C.. 15002(8)). The goals of the grant program shall be to meet the transitional needs of youth with developmental disabilities by expanding services and supports to those persons “without adult service agency ties” in the chapter 688 transition process, other than the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and to assist the Department in providing cost estimates to the Legislature pursuant to Section 6.

SECTION 6: The secretary of executive office of health and human services shall file a report to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, by January 1, 2016 and on an annual basis thereafter, describing information about the total number of individuals referred to the bureau of transition planning of the executive office of health and human services for habilitative services from the bureau or any agency acting on its behalf, and the total number of individuals for whom such services not made available. For such persons for whom services were not made available, and who were determined to be persons with disabilities, said report shall include the proportion of individuals in need of extended case management services related to transition planning, the proportion of types of habilitative services needed by these individuals, and the approximate cost of such type of services which were not provided.

SECTION 7: The executive office of health and human services shall file a report to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, by January 1, 2016 on proposed federal Medicaid revenue strategies to address adult service needs of transitioning students with disabilities who are not eligible for programs at state disability agencies. The report shall evaluate the use of the home and community based services (HCBS) state plan option, Community Choice state option, Medicaid rehabilitation services option, HCBS waivers and demonstration waivers. The report shall consider including ranges and methods of funding needed for individuals with varying support needs, e.g., those who require employment supports only, those who require social supports only, those who require community living/safety supports, those who require nursing or medical supports and/or those who require some combination.