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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the effectiveness of state-funded homelessness |
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programs at helping beneficiaries advance toward self-sufficiency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 321.0139 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 321.0139. AUDIT OF HOMELESSNESS SERVICES. (a) In each |
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even-numbered year, the State Auditor shall require an audit to be |
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conducted regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of all |
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homelessness services that are provided by the state agencies |
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identified under Subsections (e) and (f). |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), 2026 is the first |
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year that an audit is required to be conducted under this section. |
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This subsection expires January 1, 2027. |
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(b) Not later than March 1 of the year in which an audit is |
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required under this section, the State Auditor shall engage an |
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independent external auditor to conduct the audit. The external |
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auditor may not be under the direction of any agency subject to the |
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audit under this section. |
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(c) The State Auditor shall supervise the external auditor |
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to ensure that the audit is conducted in accordance with the |
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requirements of this section. |
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(d) The audit shall: |
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(1) examine all state resources used in providing |
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services to homeless individuals, including financial resources, |
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employees, and infrastructure; |
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(2) according to the purposes of and activities funded |
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by the agencies identified under Subsections (e) and (f), their |
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programs, and participating community service providers, assess |
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the effectiveness and efficiency of the agencies, programs, and |
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providers in helping homeless individuals advance toward |
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self-sufficiency, including an assessment of the percentage of |
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beneficiaries: |
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(A) who maintain housing for at least 12 months |
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after placement in the housing, disaggregated according to the |
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primary payor for the housing and including payors other than the |
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beneficiary; |
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(B) whose children are enrolled in school or |
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other educational programs; |
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(C) if eligible, who: |
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(i) participate in at least 20 hours per |
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week of paid employment, including paid apprenticeships; |
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(ii) are engaged in occupational or |
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vocational training programs; and |
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(iii) earn a living wage, as defined by the |
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applicable local workforce development board; |
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(D) who are ineligible to participate in at least |
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20 hours per week of paid employment described by Paragraph (C)(i), |
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disaggregated by the reason for ineligibility; |
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(E) with mental health needs, who engage in |
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ongoing mental health care services; |
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(F) with addiction or substance use disorders, |
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who engage in ongoing treatment services; |
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(G) with a history of involvement with the |
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criminal justice system that continued during the 12-month period |
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following the provision of the applicable services; and |
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(H) with a history of involvement with the |
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criminal justice system that ceased during the 12-month period |
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following the provision of the applicable services; |
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(3) make recommendations for: |
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(A) eliminating poorly performing programs, |
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services, and functions; |
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(B) ending contractual or funding relationships |
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with poorly performing community service providers; |
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(C) consolidating duplicative or overlapping |
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programs, services, and functions; and |
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(D) reallocating state resources to ensure that |
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the outcomes in relation to the criteria described by Subdivision |
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(2) are achieved in the most effective and economical manner; and |
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(4) based on the effectiveness at achieving the |
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outcomes described by Subdivision (2), rate each applicable agency, |
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program, or community service provider as "unsatisfactory," |
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"satisfactory," or "exemplary." |
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(e) The following agencies must be included in the audit: |
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(1) the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs; |
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(2) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(3) the Department of Family and Protective Services; |
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(4) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(5) the Texas Workforce Commission; |
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(6) the Texas Veterans Commission; and |
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(7) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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(f) In addition to the agencies listed in Subsection (e), |
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the State Auditor may select other state agencies for inclusion in |
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the audit. |
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(g) The external auditor must: |
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(1) complete the audit not later than the 90th day |
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after the date the auditor is engaged; and |
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(2) present its results and recommendations to the |
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State Auditor and the heads of the agencies subject to the audit. |
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(h) Not later than November 1 of the year in which an audit |
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is completed under this section, the State Auditor shall prepare |
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and submit to the governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the Legislative |
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Budget Board a report regarding the audit and recommendations for |
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improvement in the agencies, programs, and community service |
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providers assessed by the State Auditor. |
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(i) The full audit and State Auditor's report must be |
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published on the State Auditor's Internet website. |
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(j) The audit shall be paid for by using existing resources |
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allocated for the purpose of auditing the agencies identified under |
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Subsections (e) and (f). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |