By: Dutton H.B. No. 708 73R2243 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the composition, powers, duties, and change of the name 1-3 of the Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Part 2, Article 4413(501), Revised Statutes, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 2.11 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 2.11. TEXAS INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR THE HOMELESS. (a) 1-8 The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is composed of: 1-9 (1) one representative from each of the following 1-10 agencies, appointed by the administrative head of that agency: 1-11 (A) the Texas Department of Health; 1-12 (B) the Texas Department of Human Services; 1-13 (C) the Texas Department of Mental Health and 1-14 Mental Retardation; 1-15 (D) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; 1-16 (E) the Texas Department on Aging; 1-17 (F) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission; 1-18 (G) the Central Education Agency; 1-19 (H) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug 1-20 Abuse; 1-21 (I) the Department of Protective and Regulatory 1-22 Services; 1-23 (J) the Health and Human Services Commission; 1-24 (K) the Texas Employment Commission; 2-1 (L) the Texas Youth Commission; 2-2 (M) the Texas Veterans Commission; and 2-3 (N) the work force development division of the 2-4 Texas Department of Commerce; 2-5 (2) one representative from the office of the 2-6 comptroller of public accounts appointed by the comptroller; 2-7 (3) two representatives from the department, one each 2-8 from the community affairs division and housing finance division, 2-9 appointed by the director; and 2-10 (4) three members representing service providers to 2-11 the homeless, one each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant 2-12 governor, and the speaker of the house. 2-13 (b) A member of the council serves at the pleasure of the 2-14 appointing official or until termination of the member's employment 2-15 with the entity the member represents. The members shall annually 2-16 elect one member to serve as presiding officer. The council shall 2-17 meet at least quarterly. Any actions taken by the council must be 2-18 approved by a majority vote of the members present. 2-19 (c) The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is 2-20 subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless 2-21 continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is 2-22 abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 1999. 2-23 (d) The council may select and use advisors as necessary. 2-24 (e) The department shall provide clerical and advisory 2-25 support staff to the council. 2-26 (f) The council shall: 2-27 (1) survey current resources for services for the 3-1 homeless in the state; 3-2 (2) initiate an evaluation of the current and future 3-3 needs for the services; 3-4 (3) assist in coordinating and providing statewide 3-5 services for all homeless persons in the state; 3-6 (4) increase the flow of information among separate 3-7 providers and appropriate authorities; 3-8 (5) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of 3-9 services for the homeless and the methods of service delivery; 3-10 (6) provide technical assistance to the housing 3-11 finance division in assessing the need for housing for persons with 3-12 special needs in different localities; 3-13 (7) establish a central resource and information 3-14 center for the homeless in the state; and 3-15 (8) develop, in cooperation with the department and 3-16 the Health and Human Services Commission, a strategic plan to 3-17 address the needs of the homeless in the state. 3-18 (g) The council shall submit annually a progress report to 3-19 the governing bodies of the agencies represented on the council. 3-20 (h) The department shall operate a transitional housing 3-21 pilot program in four areas of the state if funds are made 3-22 available. The program shall address the needs of the homeless 3-23 for: 3-24 (1) interim housing; 3-25 (2) physical and mental health services; 3-26 (3) literacy training; 3-27 (4) job training; 4-1 (5) family counseling; 4-2 (6) credit counseling; 4-3 (7) education services; and 4-4 (8) other services that will prevent homelessness. 4-5 (i) The council may accept gifts and grants from a public or 4-6 private source for use in carrying out the council's duties under 4-7 this section. 4-8 SECTION 2. Section 781.0175, Government Code, is repealed. 4-9 SECTION 3. (a) The name of the Interagency Council for 4-10 Services for the Homeless is changed to the Texas Interagency 4-11 Council for the Homeless. Any reference in the law to the 4-12 Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless means the Texas 4-13 Interagency Council for the Homeless. 4-14 (b) Before ordering or purchasing new paper or forms to 4-15 reflect the name change, the Texas Interagency Council for the 4-16 Homeless shall use all paper and forms in the possession of the 4-17 Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless. 4-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 4-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 4-23 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 4-24 passage, and it is so enacted.