| 1 | 1 | | 89R5928 JG-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 1966 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a study on the housing needs of youth transitioning out |
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| 10 | 10 | | of foster care or the juvenile justice system. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas |
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| 13 | 13 | | Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter |
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| 14 | 14 | | KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) The council shall conduct a study to examine the housing |
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| 16 | 16 | | needs of youth transitioning from foster care or the juvenile |
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| 17 | 17 | | justice system to independent living. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (c) In conducting the study under this section, the council |
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| 19 | 19 | | shall: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) examine the risk of homelessness for youth |
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| 21 | 21 | | transitioning out of foster care in this state; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) examine the risk of homelessness for youth |
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| 23 | 23 | | transitioning out of the juvenile justice system in this state; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) assess the unique housing needs of youth who: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (A) have previously been classified as a dual |
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| 26 | 26 | | status child, as defined by Section 51.02, Family Code; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (B) are part of a disproportionately represented |
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| 28 | 28 | | population in foster care, the juvenile justice system, or both; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) evaluate relevant programs and practices of state |
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| 30 | 30 | | agencies that seek to positively impact the transition of youth out |
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| 31 | 31 | | of foster care or the juvenile justice system; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (5) consult with individuals with expertise on issues |
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| 33 | 33 | | faced by youth transitioning out of foster care, the juvenile |
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| 34 | 34 | | justice system, or both. |
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| 35 | 35 | | (d) Not later than November 1, 2026, the council shall |
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| 36 | 36 | | prepare and submit to the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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| 37 | 37 | | Affairs and the legislature a written report that: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (1) summarizes the results of the study conducted |
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| 39 | 39 | | under this section; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (2) includes legislative recommendations based on the |
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| 41 | 41 | | results of the study, including recommendations to improve the |
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| 42 | 42 | | transition of youth out of foster care and the juvenile justice |
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| 43 | 43 | | system. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2026. |
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| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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