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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the definitions of homeless, homelessness, and |
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variations of those terms. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 531.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (9) to read as follows: |
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(9) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of |
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those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person mean |
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a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence |
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and include: |
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(A) a person described by 42 U.S.C. Section |
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11302(a), as that section existed on January 1, 2023; |
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(B) homeless children and youths described by 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 11434a, as that section existed on January 1, 2023; |
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and |
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(C) family members of homeless children and |
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youths described by Paragraph (B). |
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SECTION 2. Section 539.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 539.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter: |
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(1) [,] "Department [department]" means the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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(2) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of |
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those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person have |
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the meanings assigned by Section 531.001. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2306.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (12-b) to read as follows: |
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(12-b) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of |
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those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person have |
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the meanings assigned by Section 531.001. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |