Bill Text: TX SB607 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-01 - Effective on 9/1/15 [SB607 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB607-Engrossed.html

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By: Hancock S.B. No. 607

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2306.903(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is
composed of:
(1) one representative from each of the following
agencies, appointed by the administrative head of that agency:
(A) the [Texas] Department of State Health
Services;
(B) [the Texas Department of Human Services;
[(C) the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation;
[(D)] the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(C) [(E)] the [Texas] Department of [on] Aging
and Disability Services;
(D) [(F) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
[(G)] the Texas Education Agency;
(E) [(H) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse;
[(I)] the Department of Family and Protective
[and Regulatory] Services;
(F) [(J)] the Health and Human Services
Commission;
(G) [(K)] the Texas Workforce Commission;
(H) [(L)] the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
[Youth Commission]; [and]
(I) [(M)] the Texas Veterans Commission; and
(J) the Department of Assistive and
Rehabilitative Services;
(2) two representatives from the department who are
appointed by the director, including at least one representative
whose duties include management or administration of the community
services block grant program or the emergency solutions grant
program [one each from the community affairs division and the
housing finance division, appointed by the director]; and
(3) three members representing service providers to
the homeless, one each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant
governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.
SECTION 2. Section 2306.904(e), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(e) The department shall provide clerical and advisory
support staff and may provide fiscal support to the council.
SECTION 3. Section 2306.905, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 2306.905. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall:
(1) survey current resources for services for the
homeless in this state;
(2) initiate an evaluation of the current and future
needs for the services;
(3) assist in coordinating and providing statewide
services for all homeless individuals in this state;
(4) increase the flow of information among separate
providers and appropriate authorities;
(5) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of
services for the homeless and the methods of delivering those
services;
(6) provide technical assistance to the housing
finance division of the department in assessing the need for
housing for individuals with special needs in different localities;
(7) coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission,
local workforce development boards, homeless shelters, and public
and private entities to provide homeless individuals information on
services available to assist them in obtaining employment and job
training;
(8) establish a central resource and information
center for the homeless in this state; and
(9) ensure that local or statewide nonprofit
organizations perform the duties under this section that the
council is unable to perform.
(b) The council and each of its represented agencies may
seek program or policy assistance from the Texas Homeless Network
in accomplishing the council's duties.
SECTION 4. Section 2306.906(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Each agency shall contribute resources to the council
unless the agency certifies in writing that the agency is unable to
contribute resources during that fiscal period.
SECTION 5. Subchapter KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2306.910 to read as follows:
Sec. 2306.910. MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE. Notwithstanding
Chapter 551, a member of the council who resides 20 or more miles
away from the location of a council meeting may participate
remotely in the meeting by telephone conference call or
videoconference and is counted as present at the meeting for
purposes of determining whether a quorum of the council is present.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.