By: Thierry H.B. No. 2355
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to assist students at public institutions of
higher education who are homeless.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST
STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a)
In this section:
(1) "Institution[, "institution] of higher education"
has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning
assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student
housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education
during an academic term but who are homeless between academic
terms.
(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at
least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer
for current and incoming students who:
(1) [students at the institution who] were formerly in
the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
Services; or
(2) are homeless.
(c) The liaison officer shall provide to [those] students
described by Subsection (b) information regarding support
services, including financial aid, on and off campus housing, food
and meal plan programs, and counseling services, and other
resources available to the students at the institution of higher
education and any other relevant information to assist the
students.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 51.978, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 51.978. TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR
CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR WHO ARE HOMELESS.
SECTION 3. Section 51.978(a), Education Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
(3) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning
assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student
housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education
during an academic term but who are homeless between academic
terms.
SECTION 4. Section 51.978(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an
institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student
must:
(1) be:
(A) a student who has [have] been under the
conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services
or its predecessor in function on the day preceding:
(i) [(A)] the student's 18th birthday; or
(ii) [(B)] the date the student's
disabilities of minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31,
Family Code; or
(B) a student who is homeless;
(2) be enrolled full-time at the institution during
the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the
student requests the housing assistance;
(3) be registered or otherwise have taken the actions
required by the institution to permit the student to enroll
full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately
following the period for which the student requests the housing
assistance; and
(4) lack other reasonable temporary housing
alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions
(2) and (3), as determined by the institution.
SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.9781 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9781. PRIORITY ACCESS TO STUDENT HOUSING FOR
STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning
assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student
housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education
during an academic term but who are homeless between academic
terms.
(b) Each institution of higher education that maintains
student housing facilities shall give priority in the assignment of
housing in those facilities to students who are homeless.
SECTION 6. Section 61.0908, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.0908. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST
STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a)
In this section, "students who are homeless" has the meaning
assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student
housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education
during an academic term but who are homeless between academic
terms.
(b) The Higher Education Coordinating B[b]oard shall
designate at least one employee of the board to act as a liaison
officer for current and incoming students at institutions of higher
education who:
(1) were formerly in the conservatorship of the
Department of Family and Protective Services; or
(2) are homeless.
(c) The liaison officer shall assist in coordinating
college readiness and student success efforts relating to [those]
students described by Subsection (b).
SECTION 7. 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, 2017.