Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB834 Compare Versions

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1	1	88R4421 JAM-F
2	2	By: Campos, Bernal H.B. No. 834
3	3
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5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment by the Texas Department of Housing
8	8	and Community Affairs of a pilot program to solicit donations made
9	9	by text message for the benefit of local programs that provide
10	10	services to homeless individuals and families in certain
11	11	municipalities.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
14	14	amended by adding Section 2306.2582 to read as follows:
15	15	Sec. 2306.2582. HOMELESS "TEXT-TO-DONATE" PILOT PROGRAM.
16	16	(a) The department may implement and administer a pilot program to
17	17	solicit donations made by text message for the benefit of local
18	18	programs that provide services to homeless individuals and families
19	19	in municipalities with a population of 285,000 or more. If
20	20	implemented, the program shall:
21	21	(1) facilitate the process by which a person may use
22	22	text messaging to make a private donation to help homeless
23	23	individuals and families;
24	24	(2) encourage private donations to be made for the
25	25	benefit of local programs that prevent and eliminate homelessness;
26	26	and
27	27	(3) fund local programs that provide emergency housing
28	28	and transportation to homeless individuals and families.
29	29	(b) The department may adopt rules to govern the
30	30	implementation and administration of the program, including rules
31	31	that:
32	32	(1) provide for the designation of a
33	33	telecommunications carrier and text messaging service used for the
34	34	program;
35	35	(2) facilitate the acquisition of a statewide phone
36	36	number and donation code;
37	37	(3) provide the ability for an individual to make a
38	38	donation by text message in an amount chosen by the individual, to
39	39	charge the donation to the individual's phone bill or credit card,
40	40	and to select the municipality that will benefit from the donation;
41	41	(4) protect the confidentiality of donor information;
42	42	(5) establish a fund in the department to receive and
43	43	disburse money under the program;
44	44	(6) facilitate the coordination with municipalities
45	45	for the disbursement of money received under the program;
46	46	(7) establish qualifications for local organizations
47	47	to request and receive donations made through the program; and
48	48	(8) facilitate the promotion of the program to the
49	49	general public including the placement of signage in areas of a
50	50	municipality that may be impacted by large populations of homeless
51	51	persons.
52	52	(c) Of the money donated under the program, the department
53	53	shall allocate:
54	54	(1) not less than 65 percent for costs associated with
55	55	housing homeless individuals and families;
56	56	(2) not less than 20 percent for transportation costs;
57	57	(3) not less than five percent for the promotion of the
58	58	program; and
59	59	(4) not more than 10 percent for overhead and
60	60	administrative costs.
61	61	(d) The department may assign personnel to coordinate the
62	62	administration and implementation of the program.
63	63	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.