By: Campos H.B. No. 833
 
 
 
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, 2023.