By: Thierry, Harrison, et al. H.B. No. 1142

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to measures to assist students enrolled at public institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are or were in foster care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST STUDENTS WHO ARE OR WERE IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Institution[, "institution] of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education during an academic term but who are homeless between academic terms.

(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer for current and incoming:

(1) students [at the institution] who are or were [formerly] in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and

(2) students who are homeless.

(c) To the extent allowed by state or federal law, an [the] institution of higher education shall identify [those] students described by Subsection (b)(1), and make best efforts to identify students described by Subsection (b)(2), from information provided to the institution in admission or financial aid applications or other available resources.

(d) An institution of higher education may designate under Subsection (b) the same employee or employees to act as liaison officer for each student described in that subsection or one or more different employees to act as liaison officer for each of those students separately.

(e) [(c)] Each semester or other academic term, an institution of higher education shall provide to the institution's liaison officer or officers the names of and information regarding the students described by Subsection (b) for whom the officer is designated.

(f) A [(d) The] liaison officer shall provide to the students described by Subsection (b) for whom the officer is designated information regarding support services including financial aid, on-campus and off-campus housing, food and meal programs, and counseling services, [and] other resources available to the students at the institution of higher education, and any other relevant information to assist the students.

(g) A [(e) The] liaison officer may participate in any training that enables the officer to carry out the officer's duties and coordinate with liaison officers at other educational institutions.

(h) [(f)] Each institution of higher education shall publicize, including through the institution's Internet website, social media, electronic mail, or other means of communication used by the institution:

(1) the name of and contact information for the institution's liaison officer or officers; and

(2) information regarding support services and other resources available at the institution to the students described by Subsection (b).

SECTION 2. The heading to Section 51.978, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.978. TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO WERE [FORMERLY] UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR WHO ARE HOMELESS.

SECTION 3. Section 51.978(a), Education Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:

(3) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education during an academic term but who are homeless between academic terms.

SECTION 4. Section 51.978(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student must:

(1) be:

(A) a student who has [have] been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services or its predecessor in function on the day preceding:

(i) [(A)] the student's 18th birthday; or

(ii) [(B)] the date the student's disabilities of minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31, Family Code; or

(B) a student who is homeless;

(2) be enrolled full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the student requests the housing assistance;

(3) be registered or otherwise have taken the actions required by the institution to permit the student to enroll full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately following the period for which the student requests the housing assistance; and

(4) lack other reasonable temporary housing alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions (2) and (3), as determined by the institution.

SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9781 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9781. PRIORITY ACCESS TO STUDENT HOUSING FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education during an academic term but who are homeless between academic terms.

(b) Each institution of higher education that maintains student housing facilities may give priority in the assignment of housing in those facilities to students who are homeless in accordance with priorities established in the institution's housing policy.

SECTION 6. Section 61.0908, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0908. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST STUDENTS WHO WERE [FORMERLY] IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In this section, "students who are homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education during an academic term but who are homeless between academic terms.

(b) The board shall designate at least one employee of the board to act as a liaison officer for the following current and incoming students at institutions of higher education:

(1) students who were formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and

(2) students who are homeless.

(c) The board may designate under Subsection (b) the same employee or employees to act as liaison officer for each student described in that subsection or one or more different employees to act as liaison officer for each of those students separately. A [The] liaison officer shall assist the students for whom the officer is designated in coordinating college readiness and student success efforts relating to the [those] students.

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.