Texas lawmaker files bill aimed to protect Texans with intellectual, developmental disabilities after WFAA investigative report

DALLAS — A Texas lawmaker announced Wednesday he had filed a package of bills aimed at “strengthening safety procedures and accountability in group homes, facilities that care for intellectually disabled individuals.” 

The legislation stems from a series of reporting from the WFAA Investigates team, and the tragic story of a 27-year-old North Texas man with autism who was shot and killed in a group home.

Joshua Moore was shot and killed in his group home by a caregiver. State Rep. Chris Turner told WFAA in November he would draft legislation that would be called Joshua’s Act, to forbid guns in group homes.

Rep. Turner filed HB 1007 (Joshua’s Act) on Wednesday, along with three other bills. Here is a breakdown of the handful of bills Turner filed: 

• HB 1007: Prohibiting firearms in group homes, intermediate care facilities and state supported living facilities that care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• HB 1008: Prevents caregivers under investigation for misconduct from working in these facilities while their case is adjudicated. 
• HB 1009: Requires caregivers in group homes, intermediate care facilities, and state-supported living facilities to pass a federal background check so that people who have committed crimes in other states do not slip through the cracks.
• HB 1010: Prevents caregivers from taking life insurance policies out on non-relatives who are under their care.

In a press release from Turner’s office, he gave the following statement: 

“When Texans entrust the care of loved ones to a group home, they should have confidence that they will be safe, at a bare minimum. It is clear that the Legislature must strengthen protections for vulnerable Texans in these facilities so that we do not see a repeat of Joshua Moore’s needless death or the other unacceptable practices we have learned about. We have a responsibly to ensure Texas is providing these individuals with the best quality of life possible in a safe environment, and that is what this legislation is intended to do.”

“Let the tragedy of what cost Joshua Moore his life pave the way so this will never happen to another mentally challenged intellectually disabled individual,” Donald Moore, Joshua Moore’s father, added. “How many more must perish before we act to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society?”

The 88th Texas Legislative regular session runs from Jan. 10 to May 29, 2023.