87R11356 MLH-D
By: Powell S.B. No. 1862
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a task force by the commissioner of
education on students residing in temporary living arrangements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.928 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.928. TASK FORCE ON STUDENTS RESIDING IN TEMPORARY
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. (a) The commissioner shall establish a task
force to identify the number of students residing in extended stay
motels or other temporary living arrangements and study the
educational outcomes of those students.
(b) The task force is composed of an odd number of not fewer
than 13 members appointed by the commissioner and must include:
(1) an employee of a school district or
open-enrollment charter school designated as a homeless education
liaison;
(2) a representative of law enforcement;
(3) an emergency medical technician;
(4) a representative of a local mental health
authority;
(5) a representative of an extended stay motel or
similar temporary living shelter;
(6) two public school administrators;
(7) an employee of an institution of higher education,
as that term is defined by Section 61.003;
(8) a representative from a community service entity
that provides services to homeless people;
(9) a mental health services provider;
(10) a school counselor;
(11) a representative of the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs; and
(12) a representative of the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(c) In appointing members to the task force, the
commissioner shall appoint, to the greatest extent practicable,
persons who reside in areas that have a significant percentage of
homeless students, as determined by the commissioner.
(d) The task force shall:
(1) identify local, state, and other laws or
regulations that negatively impact rates of student homelessness;
(2) study unseen and unintended consequences of
students residing in extended stay motels or in other temporary
living arrangements, including dropout rates and rates of
prostitution, drug use, and other negative consequences;
(3) recommend policies and resources that would assist
families and students residing in extended stay motels or in other
temporary living arrangements;
(4) recommend methods to increase student attendance
and educational outcomes for students residing in extended stay
motels or in other temporary living arrangements; and
(5) study the impact of the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic on the student homelessness population.
(e) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall
submit to the legislature a report on the task force's findings and
recommendations. The agency shall post the report on the agency's
Internet website.
(f) The task force is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the commissioner of education shall appoint the
members of the task force established under Section 29.928,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. The commissioner of education is required to
implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner
may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other money
available for that purpose.
SECTION 4. 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, 2021.