(a) The commission and the Department of Aging and Disability Services shall assist communities in this state in developing comprehensive, community-based support and service delivery systems for long-term care services. At the request of a community-based organization or combination of community-based organizations, the commission may provide a grant to the organization or combination of organizations in accordance with Subsection (g). At the request of a community, the commission shall provide resources and assistance to the community to enable the community to:
(1) identify and overcome institutional barriers to developing more comprehensive community support systems, including barriers that result from the policies and procedures of state health and human services agencies;
(2) develop a system of blended funds, consistent with the requirements of federal law and the General Appropriations Act, to allow the community to customize services to fit individual community needs; and
(3) develop a local system of access and assistance to aid clients in accessing the full range of long-term care services.
(b) At the request of the commission, a health and human services agency shall provide resources and assistance to a community as necessary to perform the commission’s duties under Subsection (a).

(c) A health and human services agency that receives or develops a proposal for a community initiative shall submit the initiative to the commission for review and approval. The commission shall review the initiative to ensure that the initiative is consistent with other similar programs offered in communities and does not duplicate other services provided in the community.
(d) In implementing this section, the commission shall consider models used in other service delivery systems.
(e) The executive commissioner shall assure the maintenance of no fewer than 28 area agencies on aging in order to assure the continuation of a local system of access and assistance that is sensitive to the aging population.
(f) A community-based organization or a combination of organizations may make a proposal under this section. A community-based organization includes:
(1) an area agency on aging;
(2) an independent living center;
(3) a municipality, county, or other local government;
(4) a nonprofit or for-profit organization; or
(5) a community mental health and intellectual disability center.
(g) In making a grant to a community-based organization, the commission shall evaluate the organization’s proposal based on demonstrated need and the merit of the proposal. If a combination of community-based organizations makes a proposal, the combination must designate a single organization to receive and administer the grant. The commission may adopt guidelines for proposals under this subsection. The commission shall give priority to proposals that will use the Internet and related information technologies to provide to clients referral services, other information regarding local long-term care services, and needs assessment. To receive a grant under this section, a community-based organization must at least partially match the state grant with money or other resources obtained from a nongovernmental entity, from a local government, or if the community-based organization is a local government, from fees or taxes collected by the local government. The community-based organization may then combine the money or resources the organization obtains from a variety of state, local, federal, or private sources to accomplish the purpose of the proposal. If a community-based organization receives a grant on behalf of a combination of community-based organizations or if the community-based organization’s proposal involved coordinating with other entities to accomplish the purpose of the proposal, the commission may condition receipt of the grant on the organization’s making a good faith effort to coordinate with other entities in the manner indicated in the proposal.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025