1-1 By: Barrientos S.B. No. 465 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 24, 1993; February 25, 1993, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 1-4 Services; April 6, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 6, 1993, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE 1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent 1-8 Zaffirini x 1-9 Ellis x 1-10 Madla x 1-11 Moncrief x 1-12 Nelson x 1-13 Patterson x 1-14 Shelley x 1-15 Truan x 1-16 Wentworth x 1-17 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-18 AN ACT 1-19 relating to the composition, powers, duties, and change of the name 1-20 of the Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless. 1-21 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-22 SECTION 1. Part 2, Article 4413(501), Revised Statutes, is 1-23 amended by adding Section 2.11 to read as follows: 1-24 Sec. 2.11. TEXAS INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR THE HOMELESS. 1-25 (a) The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is composed of: 1-26 (1) one representative from each of the following 1-27 agencies, appointed by the administrative head of that agency: 1-28 (A) the Texas Department of Health; 1-29 (B) the Texas Department of Human Services; 1-30 (C) the Texas Department of Mental Health and 1-31 Mental Retardation; 1-32 (D) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; 1-33 (E) the Texas Department on Aging; 1-34 (F) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission; 1-35 (G) the Central Education Agency; 1-36 (H) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug 1-37 Abuse; 1-38 (I) the Department of Protective and Regulatory 1-39 Services; 1-40 (J) the Health and Human Services Commission; 1-41 (K) the Texas Employment Commission; 1-42 (L) the Texas Youth Commission; 1-43 (M) the Texas Veterans Commission; and 1-44 (N) the work force development division of the 1-45 Texas Department of Commerce; 1-46 (2) one representative from the office of the 1-47 comptroller of public accounts appointed by the comptroller; 1-48 (3) two representatives from the department, one each 1-49 from the community affairs division and the housing finance 1-50 division, appointed by the director; and 1-51 (4) three members representing service providers to 1-52 the homeless, one each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant 1-53 governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. 1-54 (b) A member of the council serves at the pleasure of the 1-55 appointing official or until termination of the member's employment 1-56 with the entity the member represents. The members shall annually 1-57 elect one member to serve as presiding officer. The council shall 1-58 meet at least quarterly. Any actions taken by the council must be 1-59 approved by a majority vote of the members present. 1-60 (c) The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is 1-61 subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless 1-62 continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the council is 1-63 abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 1999. 1-64 (d) The council may select and use advisors as necessary. 1-65 (e) The department shall provide clerical and advisory 1-66 support staff to the council. 1-67 (f) The council shall: 1-68 (1) survey current resources for services for the 2-1 homeless in the state; 2-2 (2) initiate an evaluation of the current and future 2-3 needs for the services; 2-4 (3) assist in coordinating and providing statewide 2-5 services for all homeless persons in the state; 2-6 (4) increase the flow of information among separate 2-7 providers and appropriate authorities; 2-8 (5) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of 2-9 services for the homeless and the methods of service delivery; 2-10 (6) provide technical assistance to the housing 2-11 finance division in assessing the need for housing for persons with 2-12 special needs in different localities; 2-13 (7) establish a central resource and information 2-14 center for the homeless in the state; and 2-15 (8) develop, in cooperation with the department and 2-16 the Health and Human Services Commission, a strategic plan to 2-17 address the needs of the homeless in the state. 2-18 (g) The council shall submit annually a progress report to 2-19 the governing bodies of the agencies represented on the council. 2-20 (h) The department shall operate a transitional housing 2-21 pilot program in four areas of the state if funds are made 2-22 available. The program shall address the needs of the homeless 2-23 for: 2-24 (1) interim housing; 2-25 (2) physical and mental health services; 2-26 (3) literacy training; 2-27 (4) job training; 2-28 (5) family counseling; 2-29 (6) credit counseling; 2-30 (7) education services; and 2-31 (8) other services that will prevent homelessness. 2-32 (i) The council may accept gifts and grants from a public or 2-33 private source for use in carrying out the council's duties under 2-34 this section. 2-35 SECTION 2. Section 781.0175, Government Code, is repealed. 2-36 SECTION 3. (a) The name of the Interagency Council for 2-37 Services for the Homeless is changed to the Texas Interagency 2-38 Council for the Homeless. Any reference in the law to the 2-39 Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless means the Texas 2-40 Interagency Council for the Homeless. 2-41 (b) Before ordering or purchasing new paper or forms to 2-42 reflect the name change, the Texas Interagency Council for the 2-43 Homeless shall use all paper and forms in the possession of the 2-44 Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless. 2-45 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-46 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-47 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-48 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-49 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-50 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-51 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-52 * * * * * 2-53 Austin, 2-54 Texas 2-55 April 6, 1993 2-56 Hon. Bob Bullock 2-57 President of the Senate 2-58 Sir: 2-59 We, your Committee on Health and Human Services to which was 2-60 referred S.B. No. 465, have had the same under consideration, and I 2-61 am instructed to report it back to the Senate with the 2-62 recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 2-63 Ellis, 2-64 Vice-Chair 2-65 * * * * * 2-66 WITNESSES 2-67 FOR AGAINST ON 2-68 ___________________________________________________________________ 2-69 Name: Andrew Short x 2-70 Representing: Tx Homeless Network 3-1 City: Austin 3-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-3 Name: Eddie Fariss x 3-4 Representing: Tx Dept. of Housing and Comm 3-5 City: Austin 3-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-7 Name: Parisrice Robinson x 3-8 Representing: Tx Dept. of Housing and Comm 3-9 City: Austin 3-10 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-11 Name: Virginia Lobo Somyak x 3-12 Representing: Children's Leg Links 3-13 City: Austin 3-14 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-15 Name: Jeannette Watson x 3-16 Representing: Austin Child Care Council 3-17 City: Austin 3-18 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-19 Name: Patrick Bresette x 3-20 Representing: Center for Public Policy 3-21 City: Austin 3-22 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-23 Name: Peggy Boice x 3-24 Representing: United Way of Texas 3-25 City: Austin 3-26 -------------------------------------------------------------------