84R8273 LED-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 838
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the functions of the Office of Immigration and Refugee
Affairs and the Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and
Refugees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 752.001, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.001. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
The Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs is [created] within
the Health and Human Services Commission [Texas Department of Human
Services]. The office shall work in conjunction with the office of
the secretary of state.
SECTION 2. Section 752.003, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.003. REFUGEE COORDINATOR. (a) The secretary of
state serves as the refugee coordinator for the office unless the
governor appoints a person under Subsection (b).
(b) The governor may [shall] appoint a person other than the
secretary of state as refugee coordinator for the office to serve at
the pleasure of the governor.
(c) The refugee coordinator shall serve as chief
administrative officer of the office and shall ensure coordination
of public and private resources in refugee resettlement.
SECTION 3. Section 752.004, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.004. APPLICATION FOR AND DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL
FUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENTS. (a) The office shall apply for the
maximum amount of federal funds available through the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Pub. L. No. 99-603), the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.),
[and] the Refugee Act of 1980 (8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.), and
other federal programs, as appropriate, for use in assisting state
agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and
faith-based organizations in addressing matters related to
immigrants and refugees. The office shall apply for those funds and
shall distribute the funds to agencies and other entities
responsible for providing services to immigrants, including newly
legalized aliens, and refugees in accordance with federal law. The
office may retain a portion of the federal funds to cover reasonable
costs incurred in securing and administering the funds. The office
may delegate to an appropriate state agency the administration of
funds under this section.
(b) The office shall seek reimbursement from the federal
government for any costs incurred by state agencies, local
governments, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based
organizations in addressing matters related to immigrants and
refugees.
SECTION 4. Section 752.007, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.007. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE. In addition to
other duties prescribed by this subchapter, the office shall:
(1) coordinate public and private programs for the
benefit of immigrants and refugees;
(2) receive and address inquiries relating to the
services available to immigrants or refugees at the local, state,
and federal levels; [and]
(3) assist local communities with the development of
programs to address the needs of immigrants and refugees at the
local level; and
(4) arrange meetings with appropriate local, state,
and federal authorities and the appropriate corresponding
authorities in Mexico to develop increased communication,
cooperation, and coordination to establish initiatives and
government-supported efforts that limit the entrance of
undocumented immigrants into this state.
SECTION 5. Section 752.021, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.021. GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION
AND REFUGEES. The Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and
Refugees is created within the office of the governor. The
committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Office of
Immigration and Refugee Affairs on immigration and refugee issues,
including [the SLIAG program authorized by the Immigration Reform
and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and the]
refugee assistance programs [authorized by the Refugee Act of 1980
(8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.)].
SECTION 6. Sections 752.022(a) and (c), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:
(1) two representatives of the refugee population;
(2) two representatives of the immigrant population;
(3) three representatives of local provider programs
that serve immigrants or refugees and that receive federal funds,
with one each from a public health program, a public assistance
program, and an education program;
(4) three representatives from faith-based
organizations that assist local governments with matters related to
immigrants and refugees [voluntary resettlement agencies that
receive state or federal funds];
(5) one representative from a legal organization that
is involved in issues relating to immigrants or refugees; and
(6) one representative from a service organization
that works with immigrants or refugees.
(c) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to
serve as the chair of the committee [for a one-year term].
SECTION 7. Subchapter B, Chapter 752, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 752.0231 to read as follows:
Sec. 752.0231. OTHER LAW. Section 2110.008 does not apply
to the committee.
SECTION 8. Section 752.024, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 752.024. FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall:
(1) advise and make recommendations to the Office of
Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding policy, planning, and
priorities for matters related to immigrants and refugees [the
SLIAG program and refugee assistance programs];
(2) advise and make recommendations to the Office of
Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding coordination of the
efforts of all public agencies involved in health, human services,
and education matters that relate to federal immigration and
refugee laws and rules [or implementation of the SLIAG program or
refugee assistance programs];
(3) encourage communication and cooperation among
local agencies and programs, state agencies, immigration-related
and refugee-related legal and service agencies, and the federal
government;
(4) assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee
Affairs in applying for the maximum amount of federal funds
available for immigrant-related [SLIAG-related] programs and
activities and refugee-related programs and activities and in
identifying local programs and costs relating to immigration or
refugees for which the state or a political subdivision may receive
reimbursement;
(5) provide information to programs and activities
that serve and encourage legalization and education of residents of
this state;
(6) review issues related to immigrants and refugees
[federal issues regarding the SLIAG program and refugee assistance
programs] and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration and
Refugee Affairs to encourage the development of a state response to
those [federal] issues;
(7) [review and make recommendations to the Office of
Immigration and Refugee Affairs and state agencies to ensure that
the system of fiscal and program operations for the SLIAG program
and refugee assistance programs is consistent with existing state
and federal requirements;
[(8)] assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee
Affairs in the development of an annual report on the status of
matters related to immigrants and refugees [the SLIAG program and
refugee assistance programs] in the state;
(8) [(9)] advise and make recommendations to the
Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs on other related matters
as directed by the governor; and
(9) [(10)] assist the Office of Immigration and
Refugee Affairs to better address issues related to immigrants and
refugees confronting the state and local communities [in the
development of a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 and 1994
proposing spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services to
eligible legalized aliens and for other federal funds available to
benefit immigrants or refugees in the state].
SECTION 9. (a) Not later than January 1, 2016, the governor
shall appoint the members of the Governor's Advisory Committee on
Immigration and Refugees as provided by Section 752.022(a),
Government Code, as amended by this Act. The committee is
re-created on the date the governor makes the appointments as
provided by this subsection.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 752.022(b), Government Code,
the terms of the members of the advisory committee appointed as
provided by Subsection (a) of this section expire February 1, 2017.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.