By: Howard H.B. No. 183
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the task force on asylum-seeking
migrants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. TASK FORCE ON ASYLUM-SEEKING MIGRANTS
Sec. 403.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Asylum-seeking migrant" means a person who is
seeking asylum in the United States and who has been released into a
community in this state by:
(A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
(B) United States Customs and Border Protection
or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pending an
immigration hearing;
C) the Department of Public Safety; or
(D) any other state or federal law enforcement
agency stationed at the border.
(2) "Task force" means the task force on
asylum-seeking migrants.
Sec. 403.502. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. The task force on
asylum-seeking migrants is established to:
(1) study the humanitarian and fiscal impacts of the
presence of asylum-seeking migrants in this state related to:
(a) public education and school districts;
(b) open-enrollment charter schools;
(c) institutions of higher education;
(d) the provision of health and human services
and child protection;
e) the Texas Workforce Commission;
f) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as
well as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, issues studied by
the Task Force shall include, but is not limited to, information
pertaining to:
(f-1) human trafficking;
(f-2) sex trafficking; and
(f-3) sexual assault; or
(g) other areas the Task Force determines to be
relevant in the production of the report.
(2) produce a report outlining the status of
asylum-seeking migrants in this state and distribute that report to
state officials.
Sec. 403.503. COMPOSITION. The task force is composed of
twelve members to be appointed by the comptroller as follows:
(1) one representative of a faith-based organization
providing direct services to asylum-seeking migrants in this state;
(2) one representative of a community-based
organization providing direct services to asylum-seeking migrants
in this state;
(3) one member who is a superintendent of a school
district from the border region of Texas;
(4) one representative of a law enforcement agency;
(5) one representative of the Texas Education Agency;
(6) one representative of the Health and Human
Services Commission;
(7) one representative of the comptroller;
(8) one representative of the Texas Higher Education
Coordination Board;
(9) one representative of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice;
(10) one representative of the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department; and
(11) one member from the Texas House and Texas Senate
who represent a region of the border.
Sec. 403.504. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at
least three times each year and may hold additional meetings in
person or by conference call if necessary.
(b) Section 551.125 applies to a meeting held by conference
call under this section, except that Section 551.125(b) does not
apply.
Sec. 403.505. COMPENSATION. A member of the task force may
not receive compensation for service on the task force.
Sec. 403.506. REPORT. (a) Using funds available to the
task force under Section 403.507, the task force shall partner with
an independent third party to produce a report outlining the status
of asylum-seeking migrants in this state.
(b) The task force shall submit the report to the governor,
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
comptroller no later than December 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023.
Sec. 403.507. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The
comptroller may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or
donation from any source to carry out the purposes of this
subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subchapter, the comptroller is not required to convene the task
force to produce the report if sufficient private gifts, grants, or
donations are not available.
Sec. 403.508. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
this subchapter expires January 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2021, the
comptroller of public accounts shall, subject to Section 403.507,
Government Code, as added by this Act, convene the task force
required under Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added
by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.