By: Campos H.B. No. 3034
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on the establishment of a statewide
homelessness data system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas
Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter
KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code.
(b) The council shall conduct a study on the feasibility of
establishing a statewide homelessness data system through which:
(1) state agencies and local governmental entities,
including law enforcement agencies, court systems, school
districts, and emergency service providers, are able to share
information related to individuals experiencing homelessness; and
(2) the entities described by Subdivision (1) of this
subsection are able to access information related to individuals
experiencing homelessness in order to connect or refer those
individuals to services, including affordable housing
opportunities.
(c) In conducting the study under this section, the council
shall:
(1) consult with representatives of the entities
described by Subsection (b)(1) of this section to determine the
challenges faced by those entities in addressing homelessness and
how best to improve the responses to those challenges; and
(2) assess the feasibility for the statewide
homelessness data system described by Subsection (b) of this
section to:
(A) ensure that information stored in the data
system that is confidential under state or federal law is not
disclosed;
(B) collect data from other homelessness data
systems maintained or operated by a state agency, local law
enforcement agency, or other entity of this state; and
(C) collect, aggregate, analyze, and share
homelessness information with entities that have access to the
system.
(d) Not later than October 1, 2022, the council shall
prepare and submit to the legislature and the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs a written report that summarizes the
results of the study conducted under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.