By: Garcia, Menéndez S.B. No. 1580
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on homeless veterans.
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
Sec. 2306.1101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "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:
(1) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence, including a person who:
(A) is temporarily allowed to stay in the house
of another person due to loss of housing;
(B) is temporarily living in a motel or hotel;
(C) is living in an emergency shelter; or
(D) will lose housing in less than 15 days;
(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 VETERANS. (a) The
department, in conjunction with other members of the Texas
Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter
KK, shall conduct a study and prepare a report on homeless veterans.
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.
(b) In preparing the report required under this section, the
department shall:
(1) compile existing data on the number of homeless
veterans in this state;
(2) summarize existing studies regarding the needs of
homeless veterans and identify the degree to which current programs
are meeting those needs;
(3) identify existing sources of funding available to
members of the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless to
provide housing and services to homeless veterans; and
(4) develop recommendations for reducing veteran
homelessness in the state.
(c) The department shall submit the report required by this
section to the legislature not later than December 1, 2016.
(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.