By: Turner of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 679
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2015;
April 23, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
and Human Services; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 4; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
SchwertnerX
KolkhorstX
CampbellX
EstesX
PerryX
RodrÃguezX
TaylorofCollinX
UrestiX
ZaffiriniX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on homeless 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 YOUTH
Sec. 2306.1101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "homeless
youth" means a person who is younger than 19 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), who:
(1) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence, including a person who is:
(A) temporarily allowed to stay in the house of
another person due to loss of housing;
(B) temporarily living in a motel or hotel;
(C) living in an emergency shelter;
(D) abandoned in a hospital; or
(E) awaiting foster care placement;
(2) 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
(3) 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 YOUTH. (a) The
department, in conjunction with other members of the Texas
Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter
KK, 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;
(3) identify any sources of funding that might be
available to provide services to homeless youth; and
(4) develop a strategic plan establishing steps to be
taken and timelines for reducing youth homelessness in this state.
(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.
(d) This section 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.
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