Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a)
Protection of rights. A LIDDA must develop and implement policies and
procedures that protect the rights of individuals and are consistent with
Chapter 4, Subchapter C of this title (relating to Rights of Individuals with
an Intellectual Disability).
(b)
Restrictions and limitations placed on an individual.
(1) A LIDDA:
(A) may implement behavioral support that
involves restrictions or limitations placed on an individual only in accordance
with paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (e) of this
section;
(B) must comply with
subsection (f) of this section when using restraint, and for restraint used
under subsection (f)(2)(A) or (B) of this section, also comply with paragraph
(2) of this subsection; and
(C) may
place another type of restriction or limitation on an individual only if:
(i) the restriction or limitation protects
the individual's health or safety that is jeopardized by an identified
behavior; and
(ii) the LIDDA
complies with paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.
(2) A LIDDA must ensure that any
restriction or limitation placed on an individual, except for a restraint used
under subsection (f)(2)(C) of this section, is reviewed and approved by the
rights protection officer and, at the discretion of the LIDDA, other
appropriate staff members who are not on the individual's planning team, before
the restriction or limitation is implemented. If a restriction or limitation is
implemented in an emergency, including a behavioral emergency, the LIDDA must
notify the rights protection officer as soon as possible after
implementation.
(3) If a
restriction or limitation not required to be in a behavioral support plan is
approved in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, the individual's
plan of services and supports must:
(A)
include the restriction or limitation;
(B) identify the circumstances or criteria to
be met that will result in the removal of the restriction or limitation;
and
(C) require the planning team
to review the restriction or limitation, as necessary but at least annually, to
determine appropriateness.
(c) Medication practices. A LIDDA's policies
and procedures relating to medication practices must:
(1) be consistent with accepted principles of
practice and applicable state laws and regulations to ensure medication is
administered safely and appropriately;
(2) be approved in writing by a physician or
registered nurse; and
(3) address:
(A) proper handling, storage, and disposal of
medications;
(B) proper use of
telephone orders if the LIDDA allows for telephone orders;
(C) administration of medications by staff
members licensed or authorized to administer medications if the LIDDA allows
for administration of medications;
(D) supervision of self-administration of
medication by an individual; and
(E) documentation of follow-up and corrective
action when medication errors occur.
(d) Informed consent for psychoactive
medication. Except as provided by paragraph (2) of this subsection, a physician
employed or contracted by a LIDDA may prescribe psychoactive medication for an
individual only if the individual or LAR has given written informed consent for
the medication.
(1) In seeking informed
consent for a psychoactive medication, the prescribing physician must provide
the individual and LAR:
(A) an explanation of
the medication and its purposes;
(B) the expected beneficial effects, side
effects, and risks of the medication;
(C) the probable consequences of not taking
the medication;
(D) the existence
and value of alternative forms of treatment, if any, and why the physician does
not recommend the alternative treatment;
(E) instruction that the individual or LAR
may withdraw consent at any time without negative repercussions by a staff
member or prejudicing the future provision of services;
(F) an opportunity to ask questions
concerning the medication and its use; and
(G) the time period, not to exceed one year,
for which the individual's or LAR's consent will be effective.
(2) If an individual or LAR gives
informed consent for a psychoactive medication but is physically unable to
document the consent in writing, the prescribing physician must document in the
individual's record that informed consent was given and the reason such consent
was not documented by the individual or LAR.
(3) Prior to changing an individual's
medication regimen that would result in a change of medication class or in a
significant change in the benefits, side effects, or risks to the individual,
the physician must obtain written informed consent from the individual or LAR
in accordance with this subsection.
(e) Behavioral support.
(1) A LIDDA's policies and procedures related
to behavioral support must include:
(A) the
accepted standards of professional practice for the use of behavioral support,
including the use of interventions during a behavioral emergency; and
(B) a requirement that a provider of
behavioral support:
(i) is licensed as a
psychologist in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 501;
(ii) is licensed as a psychological associate
in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 501;
(iii) has been issued a provisional license
to practice psychology in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter
501;
(iv) is a certified authorized
provider as described in §5.161
of this title (relating to Certified Authorized Provider);
(v) is licensed as a licensed clinical social
worker in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 505;
(vi) is licensed as a licensed professional
counselor in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 503; or
(vii) is certified as a behavior analyst by
the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.
(2) Except as provided by paragraph (4) of
this subsection, behavioral support interventions that involve restrictions or
limitations placed on an individual or the use of intrusive techniques may only
be provided in accordance with an approved written behavioral support plan. The
behavioral support plan must:
(A) be based on:
(i) a functional assessment of the
individual's behavior targeted by the plan; and
(ii) input from the individual's planning
team and other professionals, as appropriate;
(B) describe the interventions to be used
that are appropriate to the severity of the behavior targeted by the
plan;
(C) be consistent with the
outcomes identified in the individual's plan of services and
supports;
(D) be approved by the
individual's planning team prior to implementation;
(E) be accepted by the individual or LAR as
evidenced by the individual's or LAR's written informed consent;
(F) provide for the collection of behavioral
data concerning the targeted behavior; and
(G) require the professional who developed
the plan to:
(i) educate the individual and
LAR and other persons identified by the planning team (for example, family
members and providers) regarding the purpose, objectives, methods and
documentation of the behavioral support plan and subsequent revisions of the
plan;
(ii) monitor and evaluate the
success of the behavioral support plan implementation as required by the
plan;
(iii) review, with other
members of the individual's planning team, the behavioral support plan at least
annually, or more often as indicated, to determine the effectiveness of the
plan; and
(iv) revise the plan as
necessary, based on documented outcomes of the plan's implementation.
(3) In obtaining
informed consent as required by paragraph (2)(E) of this subsection, the
professional who developed that plan must provide the individual or LAR:
(A) a description of the interventions to be
used in the behavioral support plan;
(B) the expected beneficial effects and risks
of the interventions;
(C) the
probable consequences of not using the interventions;
(D) the existence and value of alternative
interventions, if any, and why the professional does not recommend the
alternative interventions;
(E) oral
and written notification that the individual or LAR may withdraw consent for
the behavioral support plan at any time without negative repercussions by a
staff member or prejudicing the future provision of services;
(F) an opportunity to ask questions
concerning the behavioral support plan; and
(G) the time period, not to exceed one year,
for which the individual's or LAR's consent will be effective.
(4) A LIDDA may implement
behavioral support that involves restrictions or limitations placed on an
individual or the use of intrusive techniques without a behavioral support plan
if the support is in response to a behavioral emergency. If such behavioral
support is implemented more than twice during two consecutive months, the LIDDA
must conduct a functional assessment to determine if a behavioral support plan
is needed to reduce the frequency and severity of the behaviors exhibited
during the behavioral emergency.
(f) Restraint.
(1) A LIDDA must have and implement a
curriculum that ensures staff members are trained in the prevention and
management of aggressive behavior. The curriculum must be consistent with the
requirements of this subsection.
(2) A staff member may use restraint only
under the following circumstances:
(A) in a
behavioral emergency;
(B) as part
of a behavioral support plan that addresses inappropriate behavior exhibited
voluntarily by an individual; or
(C) in accordance with an order for the
restraint from a physician, dentist, occupational therapist, or physical
therapist.
(3) A staff
member is prohibited from using restraint:
(A)
in a manner that:
(i) obstructs the
individual's airway, including the placement of anything in, on, or over the
individual's mouth or nose;
(ii)
impairs the individual's breathing by putting pressure on the individual's
torso; or
(iii) places the
individual in a prone or supine position;
(B) for disciplinary purposes (that is, for
retaliation or retribution);
(C)
for the convenience of a staff member or other individuals; or
(D) as a substitute for effective treatment
or habilitation.
(4) If
restraint will be used as part of a behavioral support plan, the planning team
must:
(A) with the involvement of a physician
or registered nurse, identify and document:
(i) the individual's known physical or
medical conditions that might constitute a risk to the individual during the
use of restraint;
(ii) the
individual's ability to communicate; and
(iii) other factors, such as the
individual's:
(I) cognitive functioning
level;
(II) height;
(III) weight;
(IV) emotional condition, including whether
the individual has a history of having been physically or sexually abused;
and
(V) age; and
(B) review and update
with a physician or registered nurse, at least annually or when a condition or
factor documented in accordance with paragraph (4)(A) of this subsection
changes significantly.
(5) If restraint is used in a behavioral
emergency more than twice during two consecutive months, the planning team must
ensure a functional assessment of the individual is conducted to determine if a
behavioral support plan is needed to reduce the frequency and severity of the
behaviors exhibited during the behavioral emergency.
(6) If a staff member restrains an individual
in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, the staff member must:
(A) use the minimal amount of force or
pressure that is reasonable and necessary to ensure the safety of the
individual and others;
(B)
safeguard the individual's dignity, privacy, and well-being; and
(C) not secure the individual to a stationary
object while the individual is in a standing position.
(7) If a staff member restrains an individual
in accordance with paragraph (2)(A) or (B) of this subsection, the staff member
may only use a restraint hold in which the individual's limbs are held close to
the body to limit or prevent movement and that is in compliance with paragraph
(3)(A) of this subsection.
(8) A
staff member must release an individual from restraint:
(A) as soon as the individual no longer poses
a risk of imminent physical harm to the individual or others; or
(B) as soon as possible if the individual in
restraint experiences a medical emergency, as indicated by the medical
emergency.
(9) After
restraining an individual in a behavioral emergency, a staff member must:
(A) as soon as possible but no later than one
hour after the use of restraint, notify a registered nurse, licensed vocational
nurse, or a professional identified in subsection (e)(1)(B) of this section of
the restraint;
(B) ensure that
medical services are obtained for the individual as necessary; and
(C) discuss the circumstances of the
restraint with a professional identified in subsection (e)(1)(B) of this
section.