84R11499 LED-F
By: Howard H.B. No. 2783
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the humanitarian relief
reimbursement task force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF REIMBURSEMENT TASK FORCE
Sec. 403.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Task force" means the humanitarian relief
reimbursement task force.
(2) "Humanitarian relief" includes services related
to public education, health and human services, and child
protective services provided to a refugee child by:
(A) a state agency or entity;
(B) local governments;
(C) nonprofit and community-based organizations;
and
(D) faith-based organizations.
(3) "Refugee child" means a child who has been
released into communities in this state by:
(A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement; or
(B) United States Customs and Border Protection
or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pending an
immigration hearing.
Sec. 403.502. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. The humanitarian
relief reimbursement task force is established to:
(1) determine public and private costs incurred in
providing humanitarian relief, including costs incurred by
providing public education, health and human services, and child
protective services, to refugee children; and
(2) produce a report outlining public and private
costs incurred in providing humanitarian relief to refugee children
and distribute that report to state and federal officials.
Sec. 403.503. COMPOSITION. The task force is composed of
eight members to be appointed by the comptroller as follows:
(1) one representative of a faith-based organization
providing direct humanitarian relief to refugee children in this
state;
(2) one representative of a community-based
organization providing direct humanitarian relief to refugee
children in this state;
(3) one member who is a superintendent of a school
district providing direct humanitarian relief to refugee children;
(4) one representative of a law enforcement agency;
(5) one representative of the Texas Education Agency;
(6) one representative of the Health and Human
Services Commission;
(7) one representative of the comptroller; and
(8) one representative of a foundation that invests in
humanitarian relief efforts for refugee children in this state.
Sec. 403.504. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet in
person at least three times each year and may hold additional
meetings in person or by conference call if necessary.
(b) Section 551.125 applies to a meeting held by conference
call under this section, except that Section 551.125(b) does not
apply.
Sec. 403.505. COMPENSATION. A member of the task force may
not receive compensation for service on the task force.
Sec. 403.506. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF REIMBURSEMENT REPORT.
(a) Using funds available to the task force under Section 403.507,
the task force shall partner with an independent third party to
produce a report outlining the public and private costs incurred in
providing humanitarian relief to refugee children that are not
reimbursed by the federal government.
(b) The task force shall submit the report to the governor,
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
comptroller. The task force shall also submit the report to the
president of the United States, the secretary of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services, the secretary of the
United States Department of Education, and each member of the Texas
delegation to the United States Senate and House of
Representatives.
Sec. 403.507. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The
comptroller may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or
donation from any source to carry out the purposes of this
subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subchapter, the comptroller is not required to convene the task
force to produce the report if sufficient private gifts, grants, or
donations are not available.
Sec. 403.508. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
this subchapter expires December 31, 2016.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2015, the
comptroller of public accounts shall, subject to Section 403.507,
Government Code, as added by this Act, convene the task force
required under Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added
by this Act.
(b) If the comptroller of public accounts convenes the task
force under Subsection (a) of this section, not later than October
1, 2016, the task force shall submit the report required under
Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.