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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to standardizing definitions of homelessness. |
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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 subsection (9) to read as follows: |
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(9) "Homeless", "homelessness", and "homeless |
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persons" mean individuals or families lacking a fixed, regular, and |
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adequate nighttime residence as described in the federal |
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McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act (Title 42 U.S.C., chapter |
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119, subchapter I) as it existed on January 1, 2023. |
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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. In this chapter:, |
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(1) "dDepartment" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Homeless", "homeless family", "homeless youth", |
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and "person experiencing homelessness" mean individuals or |
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families lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence |
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as described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act |
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(Title 42 U.S.C., chapter 119, subchapter I) as it existed on |
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January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2306.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding subsection (12-b) to read as follows: |
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(12-b) "Homeless", "homelessness", and "homeless |
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individuals" mean individuals or families lacking a fixed, regular, |
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and adequate nighttime residence as described in the federal |
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McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act (Title 42 U.S.C., chapter |
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119, subchapter I) as it existed on January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |