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Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to Meet in Beaumont, Texas January 25-26, 2023

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) welcomes all Texans to join us for our quarterly meeting, both in person and virtually, January 25-26, 2023, at the Region 5 Education Service Center in Beaumont,?Texas. Registration using the Zoom link below is required to participate virtually.

Texas GCPD Quarterly Meeting

January 25^th & 26^th 2024

Thursday 8:30 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m.

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Region 5 Education Service Center

350 Pine St, 6^th Floor

Bluebonnet Room

Beaumont, TX 77701

Members of the public may provide public comment pertaining to disability related topics. There are three ways to take part in this process: in-person, by speaking during the designated public comment time, or emailing a short written statement in advance to [email protected]. Those who are participating virtually and wish to contribute a public comment are encouraged to use Zoom's Q/A feature at the beginning of the meeting to provide your name and state "I wish to provide public comment." If you connect via telephone and wish to give public comment, please email [email protected] before the meeting begins or leave a voicemail at 512-463-5739 with your name and phone number.

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the?meeting agenda?is posted in the Texas Register on the Secretary of State?s website.

Videoconference option also available via ZOOM; Registration is required.

January 25^th Zoom link- https://txgov-us.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_efDwPTbpR-6Zc64NQ7huug

January 26^th Zoom link- https://txgov-us.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_B3wDrNiVTC6WgpK78O37qw

A public meeting of the Texas Governor?s Committee on People with Disabilities will be conducted under Texas Government Code Section 551.127, related to meetings involving members joining by videoconference call. It is the intent of the Committee to have the chairperson present at Beaumont, Texas. This location will be open to the public during the open portions of the meeting. Other members of the Committee will join by videoconference from separate locations.

Members of the public will also have access to a live audiovisual stream of the meeting in addition to the option to be physically present at the location. The Committee will record the video and audio of the meeting and make the recording available upon request. For questions, contact (512) 463-5739 or email [email protected].

Meeting Materials Available at: https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/committee-meetings

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January 25, 2024

1. Call to Order/ Roll Call (begin recording) / Introductions ? Richard Martinez, Chair
2. Welcoming Remarks from Mayor Roy West
3. Approval of Committee Member Absences as Submitted (Discussion/Possible Action)
4. Approval of Summary Minutes for October 25, 2023 - 7, 2023 (Discussion/Possible Action)
5. Listening to the Beaumont Disability Community?(15 minutes per presentation)
   1. RISE Independent Living Center, Seth Wells, Executive Director
   2. The Arc of Greater Beaumont, Sarah Hardin, Executive Director

6. Public Comment?(3 minutes per presentation)

BREAK

7. Reports from Invited Exofficio Agency Representatives, includes follow up topics from previous meetings (Discussion/Possible Action)
   1. Department of Family and Protective Services ? Brock Boudreau
   2. Texas Department of Criminal Justice ? Karen Hall
   3. Texas Education Agency ? Kristin McGuire
   4. Texas Workforce Commission ? Claudia Peden
   5. Health and Human Services Commission ? Clair Benitez

LUNCH

8. Presentation on Christina Sullivan Foundation Sports Center & Research Institute ? Founders Josephine and Craig Sullivan
9. Executive Director Report
   1. GCPD Staff Activities ? Ron Lucey
   2. Diabetes Subcommittee ? Rebecca Lopez/Evelyn Cano
      1. Policy Recommendations
   3. Transportation Subcommittee ? Ron Lucey
      1. Driving with Disability Law Change Policy Recommendation
   4. Braille Literacy Subcommittee ? Neva Fairchild
   5. Disability Statistics Interactive Map and Website ? Rebecca Lopez

BREAK

10. Presentation on HHSC Specialized Telecommunication Assistance Program (STAP), Bryant Robinson (Discussion/Possible Action)
11. GCPD Policy Recommendations to the 89^th Legislature (Discussion/Possible Action)
    1. Reducing Time to Process and Improving Communication and Accountability for STAP Applications
    2. Family as Paid Caregivers under Community First Choice Program and Family as Paid Caregiver for 1915(c) Waivers
    3. Waiver Cost Cap Increases
    4. Intervener Services While Hospitalized
    5. Exploring the Systematic Restoration of SSA Disability Benefits and Application for Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Inmates with Disabilities Exiting Texas Prisons and Jails

12. Review of Existing Policy Recommendations from 88^th Biennium

January 26, 2024

12. Reconvene ? Richard Martinez
13. Public Comment?(3 minutes per presentation)

15. Introduction to the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, Molly Davis, Staff Attorney, JCMH
16. Williamson County Peer Program, Gordon Butler
    1. Explore Vocational Rehabilitation Rapid Response for determining eligibility for diversion court participants.
    2. Explore transportation funding and grants for diversion courts.

BREAK

18. GCPD Policy Development and Discussion
    1. University Interscholastic League Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Fine and Performing Arts ? Evelyn Cano
    2. Support for Interlocal Transportation in the Rio Grande Valley and Collaboration with Councils of Governments (CoGs) ? Evelyn Cano
    3. Discussion of Accessibility in the Built Environment and the Texas Accessibility Standards; Accessible Amenities for Little People ? Kori Allen
    4. Municipal Implementation of State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) Wellness-Checks During Disasters ? Kori Allen
    5. Criminal Justice Diversion Programs for Veterans with Disabilities ? Eric Lindsay
    6. Monitoring of Charter Schools and IDEA and 504 Implementation ? Richard Martinez
    7. Medicaid Provider Rates and Provider Network Adequacy ? Ellen Bauman
    8. Follow up on Course Withdrawal Limits for Higher Education Students ? Kristie Orr
    9. Education policies to addressing chronic allergies in K-12 ? Elyse Liberman
19. Future Agenda Items and Meeting (Discussion/Possible Action)
20. Adjournment ? Richard Martinez, Chair

Notice of Assistance at Public Meetings

The Committee will provide Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language Interpretation for this meeting. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance, such as materials in an alternate format, contact the Governor?s Committee on People with Disabilities at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. 512-463-5739. Use the Relay Option of Your Choice. E-mail: [email protected]

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The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities provides GovDelivery updates for informational purposes on a variety of disability related issues for a diverse audience. Updates may include information provided by external sources. The inclusion of this external information does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the Committee or the Office of the Governor of any information, policy, product, or service offered by an external source.

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