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
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