By: Springer S.B. No. 1804

(In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2023; March 20, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government; May 3, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 3, 2023, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1804 By: Hall

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the definitions of homeless, homelessness, and variations of those terms.

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

SECTION 1. Section 531.001, Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (9) to read as follows:

(9) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person mean a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and include:

(A) a person described by 42 U.S.C. Section 11302(a), as that section existed on January 1, 2023;

(B) homeless children and youths described by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a, as that section existed on January 1, 2023; and

(C) family members of homeless children and youths described by Paragraph (B).

SECTION 2. Section 539.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 539.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter:

(1) [,] "Department [department]" means the Department of State Health Services.

(2) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person have the meanings assigned by Section 531.001.

SECTION 3. Section 2306.004, Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (12-b) to read as follows:

(12-b) "Homeless," "homelessness," and variations of those terms used in reference to the housing status of a person have the meanings assigned by Section 531.001.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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