89R12924 JAM-F
By: Campos H.B. No. 2685
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an evaluation by the housing and health services
coordination council of the 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas
Information and Referral Network.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2306.1096, Government Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (b-1) and amending
Subsection (b) to read as follows:
(a-1) To help inform an expansion of service-enriched
housing throughout the state, not later than August 1 of each
even-numbered year the council shall complete and submit to the
department an evaluation of the 2-1-1 services provided by the
Texas Information and Referral Network that considers:
(1) data collection from user calls and website visits
to determine:
(A) the extent of use of 2-1-1 Texas services;
(B) demographic characteristics of 2-1-1 Texas
users;
(C) existing needs of 2-1-1 Texas users;
(D) potential marketing needs; and
(E) comparisons with similar systems in other
states;
(2) the database of the Texas Information and Referral
Network with respect to:
(A) current integration status of statewide
information and state agency resources;
(B) current integration status of regional and
local information and community resources;
(C) the process of identifying new service
providers and including those providers in the database;
(D) the monitoring of local organizations and
state agencies to ensure those entities are providing updated lists
of resources to include in the 2-1-1 Texas database; and
(E) the ability to timely update
emergency-related information into the database;
(3) 2-1-1 Texas user interviews and recommendations
with respect to a user's point-of-entry experience and satisfaction
with any community resource information or referrals resulting from
the use of the service, and any other applicable 2-1-1 Texas user
recommendations;
(4) referral outcome statistics for 2-1-1 Texas users;
and
(5) 2-1-1 Texas leadership interviews and
recommendations with respect to:
(A) technology and communication enhancements,
including texting and a two-way application programming interface;
(B) measures designed to connect specialized
populations with available state and local services;
(C) practices that support area information
centers in any efforts to join with community partners to engage in
special projects that leverage the 2-1-1 Texas platform,
technology, and system; and
(D) increasing innovation, efficiency, and
system integration with state agencies and community partners.
(a-2) The Texas Information and Referral Network shall work
with the council to determine what de-identified information could
be included in the evaluation required under Subsection (a-1) to
improve the provision of service-enriched housing.
(b) The council shall develop a biennial plan to:
(1) implement the goals described by Subsection (a);
and
(2) improve the delivery of community resource
information and referrals by considering the results of the
evaluations conducted under Subsection (a-1).
(b-1) The department may use funds from general revenue to
contract for services on behalf of the council in relation to the
council's duties under Subsection (a-1).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.