Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1803 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Springer, et al. S.B. No. 1803
2	2	(Metcalf)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the effectiveness of state-funded homelessness
8	8	programs at helping beneficiaries advance toward self-sufficiency.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Section 321.0139 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 321.0139. AUDIT OF HOMELESSNESS SERVICES. (a) In each
13	13	even-numbered year, the State Auditor shall require an audit to be
14	14	conducted regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of all
15	15	homelessness services that are provided by the state agencies
16	16	identified under Subsections (e) and (f).
17	17	(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), 2026 is the first
18	18	year that an audit is required to be conducted under this section.
19	19	This subsection expires January 1, 2027.
20	20	(b) Not later than March 1 of the year in which an audit is
21	21	required under this section, the State Auditor shall engage an
22	22	independent external auditor to conduct the audit. The external
23	23	auditor may not be under the direction of any agency subject to the
24	24	audit under this section.
25	25	(c) The State Auditor shall supervise the external auditor
26	26	to ensure that the audit is conducted in accordance with the
27	27	requirements of this section.
28	28	(d) The audit shall:
29	29	(1) examine all state resources used in providing
30	30	services to homeless individuals, including financial resources,
31	31	employees, and infrastructure;
32	32	(2) according to the purposes of and activities funded
33	33	by the agencies identified under Subsections (e) and (f), their
34	34	programs, and participating community service providers, assess
35	35	the effectiveness and efficiency of the agencies, programs, and
36	36	providers in helping homeless individuals advance toward
37	37	self-sufficiency, including an assessment of the percentage of
38	38	beneficiaries:
39	39	(A) who maintain housing for at least 12 months
40	40	after placement in the housing, disaggregated according to the
41	41	primary payor for the housing and including payors other than the
42	42	beneficiary;
43	43	(B) whose children are enrolled in school or
44	44	other educational programs;
45	45	(C) if eligible, who:
46	46	(i) participate in at least 20 hours per
47	47	week of paid employment, including paid apprenticeships;
48	48	(ii) are engaged in occupational or
49	49	vocational training programs; and
50	50	(iii) earn a living wage, as defined by the
51	51	applicable local workforce development board;
52	52	(D) who are ineligible to participate in at least
53	53	20 hours per week of paid employment described by Paragraph (C)(i),
54	54	disaggregated by the reason for ineligibility;
55	55	(E) with mental health needs, who engage in
56	56	ongoing mental health care services;
57	57	(F) with addiction or substance use disorders,
58	58	who engage in ongoing treatment services;
59	59	(G) with a history of involvement with the
60	60	criminal justice system that continued during the 12-month period
61	61	following the provision of the applicable services; and
62	62	(H) with a history of involvement with the
63	63	criminal justice system that ceased during the 12-month period
64	64	following the provision of the applicable services;
65	65	(3) make recommendations for:
66	66	(A) eliminating poorly performing programs,
67	67	services, and functions;
68	68	(B) ending contractual or funding relationships
69	69	with poorly performing community service providers;
70	70	(C) consolidating duplicative or overlapping
71	71	programs, services, and functions; and
72	72	(D) reallocating state resources to ensure that
73	73	the outcomes in relation to the criteria described by Subdivision
74	74	(2) are achieved in the most effective and economical manner; and
75	75	(4) based on the effectiveness at achieving the
76	76	outcomes described by Subdivision (2), rate each applicable agency,
77	77	program, or community service provider as "unsatisfactory,"
78	78	"satisfactory," or "exemplary."
79	79	(e) The following agencies must be included in the audit:
80	80	(1) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
81	81	Affairs;
82	82	(2) the Health and Human Services Commission;
83	83	(3) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
84	84	(4) the Texas Education Agency;
85	85	(5) the Texas Workforce Commission;
86	86	(6) the Texas Veterans Commission; and
87	87	(7) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
88	88	(f) In addition to the agencies listed in Subsection (e),
89	89	the State Auditor may select other state agencies for inclusion in
90	90	the audit.
91	91	(g) The external auditor must:
92	92	(1) complete the audit not later than the 90th day
93	93	after the date the auditor is engaged; and
94	94	(2) present its results and recommendations to the
95	95	State Auditor and the heads of the agencies subject to the audit.
96	96	(h) Not later than November 1 of the year in which an audit
97	97	is completed under this section, the State Auditor shall prepare
98	98	and submit to the governor, the speaker of the house of
99	99	representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the Legislative
100	100	Budget Board a report regarding the audit and recommendations for
101	101	improvement in the agencies, programs, and community service
102	102	providers assessed by the State Auditor.
103	103	(i) The full audit and State Auditor's report must be
104	104	published on the State Auditor's Internet website.
105	105	(j) The audit shall be paid for by using existing resources
106	106	allocated for the purpose of auditing the agencies identified under
107	107	Subsections (e) and (f).
108	108	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.