88R14533 MCF-F
By: Garcia H.B. No. 5045
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a task force to study access to
telephone and Internet service among homeless veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "task force" means the
task force established under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. (a) The Texas
Veterans Commission, in collaboration with the Public Utility
Commission of Texas, shall establish a task force to:
(1) evaluate the ability of homeless veterans to
access telephone and Internet service;
(2) determine the effect that increasing a homeless
veteran's access to telephone and Internet service would have on
the homeless veteran's ability to obtain available services and
benefits;
(3) consider the potential for partnerships between
public and private entities to provide access to telephone and
Internet service to homeless veterans at a low or reduced cost; and
(4) assess federal, state, and private funding sources
available to increase access to telephone and Internet service by
homeless veterans.
(b) The task force may seek assistance from any organization
that serves veterans, including homeless veterans.
SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is
composed of four members as follows:
(1) one representative of the Texas Veterans
Commission;
(2) one representative of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas; and
(3) two members appointed by the governor, including:
(A) one member representing telephone service
providers; and
(B) one member representing Internet service
providers.
SECTION 4. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. (a) The executive
director of each state agency represented on the task force shall
appoint an employee of the agency to serve as the agency's
representative on the task force not later than November 1, 2023.
(b) Not later than November 1, 2023, the governor shall
appoint two members to the task force as provided by Section 3 of
this Act.
SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2024, the
task force shall prepare and submit to the Texas Veterans
Commission, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the governor,
the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the members of the legislature a written
report on its findings.
SECTION 6. ABOLISHMENT AND EXPIRATION. The task force is
abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2025.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2023.