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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the establishment of a statewide |
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homelessness data system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas |
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Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter |
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KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code. |
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(b) The council shall conduct a study on the feasibility of |
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establishing a statewide homelessness data system through which: |
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(1) state agencies and local governmental entities, |
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including law enforcement agencies, court systems, school |
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districts, and emergency service providers, are able to share |
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information related to individuals experiencing homelessness; and |
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(2) the entities described by Subdivision (1) of this |
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subsection are able to access information related to individuals |
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experiencing homelessness in order to connect or refer those |
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individuals to services, including affordable housing |
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opportunities. |
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(c) In conducting the study under this section, the council |
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shall: |
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(1) consult with representatives of the entities |
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described by Subsection (b)(1) of this section to determine the |
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challenges faced by those entities in addressing homelessness and |
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how best to improve the responses to those challenges; and |
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(2) assess the feasibility for the statewide |
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homelessness data system described by Subsection (b) of this |
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section to: |
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(A) ensure that information stored in the data |
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system that is confidential under state or federal law is not |
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disclosed; |
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(B) collect data from other homelessness data |
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systems maintained or operated by a state agency, local law |
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enforcement agency, or other entity of this state; and |
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(C) collect, aggregate, analyze, and share |
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homelessness information with entities that have access to the |
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system. |
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(d) Not later than October 1, 2024, the council shall |
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prepare and submit to the legislature and the Texas Department of |
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Housing and Community Affairs a written report that summarizes the |
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results of the study conducted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |