Texas 2015 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4013 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/13/2015

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                    84R9982 ADM-F
 By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 4013


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to studies on homeless veterans and youth.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by
 adding Subchapter OO to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER OO. HOMELESS VETERANS AND YOUTH
 Sec. 2306.1101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Homeless veteran" means a person who has served
 on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or in the
 state military forces as defined by Section 437.001 and who:
 (A)  lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
 nighttime residence, including a person who is:
 (i)  temporarily allowed to stay in the
 house of another person due to loss of housing;
 (ii)  temporarily living in a motel or
 hotel;
 (iii)  living in an emergency shelter; or
 (iv)  abandoned in a hospital;
 (B)  has a primary nighttime residence that is a
 public or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular
 sleeping accommodation for humans; or
 (C)  is living in a car, park, other public space,
 abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or
 similar setting.
 (2)  "Homeless youth" means a person who is younger
 than 25 years of age, including a migratory child as defined by
 Section 1309, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
 U.S.C. Section 6399), and who:
 (A)  lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
 nighttime residence, including a person who is:
 (i)  temporarily allowed to stay in the
 house of another person due to loss of housing;
 (ii)  temporarily living in a motel or
 hotel;
 (iii)  living in an emergency shelter;
 (iv)  abandoned in a hospital; or
 (v)  awaiting foster care placement;
 (B)  has a primary nighttime residence that is a
 public or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular
 sleeping accommodation for humans; or
 (C)  is living in a car, park, other public space,
 abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or
 similar setting.
 Sec. 2306.1102.  STUDY ON HOMELESS VETERANS. (a)  The
 department, in conjunction with the Department of Family and
 Protective Services, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Texas
 Workforce Commission, and the Texas Homeless Education Office,
 shall conduct a study on homeless veterans.
 (b)  In conducting the study, the department shall:
 (1)  collect data on the number of homeless veterans in
 this state;
 (2)  examine the needs of homeless veterans and the
 degree to which current programs are meeting those needs; and
 (3)  identify any sources of funding that might be
 available to provide services to homeless veterans.
 (c)  The department shall submit a report on the study to the
 legislature not later than December 1, 2016.  The report must
 include a summary of the information resulting from the study and
 recommendations for changes in law necessary to provide services to
 or otherwise assist homeless veterans.
 Sec. 2306.1103.  STUDY ON HOMELESS YOUTH. (a)  The
 department, in conjunction with the Department of Family and
 Protective Services, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas
 Homeless Education Office, shall conduct a study on homeless youth.
 (b)  In conducting the study, the department shall:
 (1)  collect data on the number of homeless youth in
 this state;
 (2)  examine the needs of homeless youth and the degree
 to which current programs are meeting those needs; and
 (3)  identify any sources of funding that might be
 available to provide services to homeless youth.
 (c)  The department shall submit a report on the study to the
 legislature not later than December 1, 2016.  The report must
 include a summary of the information resulting from the study and
 recommendations for changes in law necessary to provide services to
 or otherwise assist homeless youth.
 Sec. 2306.1104.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires
 September 1, 2017.
 SECTION 2.  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.