EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Employment assistance" means assistance provided to an individual to help the individual locate paid employment in the community. Employment assistance includes:

(A) identifying an individual's employment preferences, job skills, and requirements for a work setting and work conditions;

(B) locating prospective employers offering employment compatible with an individual's identified preferences, skills, and requirements; and

(C) contacting a prospective employer on behalf of an individual and negotiating the individual's employment.

(2) "Supported employment" means assistance provided, in order to sustain paid employment, to an individual who, because of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting at which individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported employment includes adaptations, supervision, and training related to an individual's diagnosis.

(b) This section applies only to the following medical assistance waiver programs:

(1) the community based alternatives program;

(2) the community living assistance and support services program;

(3) the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities program;

(4) the home and community-based services program;

(5) the medically dependent children program;

(6) the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program;

(7) the Texas home living program; and

(8) the youth empowerment services program.

(c) The commission shall provide employment assistance and supported employment to participants in the waiver programs identified in Subsection (b).