By Dutton H.B. No. 1307 74R4943 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the authority of the commissioners court to establish a 1-3 commission for the homeless and to require the collection of a fee 1-4 to finance the commission. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 150, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-7 adding Section 150.003 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 150.003. COUNTY PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS. (a) The 1-9 commissioners court of a county by order may create a commission 1-10 for the homeless to recommend and establish programs to prevent and 1-11 alleviate homelessness in the county. 1-12 (b) A commission is composed of five members appointed by 1-13 the commissioners court. Members serve two-year terms expiring 1-14 February 1 of odd-numbered years, except the initial members' terms 1-15 may be less than two years. The commissioners court shall 1-16 designate one member to serve as presiding officer and one to serve 1-17 as assistant presiding officer for periods of one year. 1-18 (c) A member may not receive compensation but is entitled to 1-19 actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of 1-20 official duties, including travel expenses. 1-21 (d) The commission shall meet at least once each month at 1-22 the call of the presiding officer or at the request of three 1-23 members. 1-24 (e) The commission shall: 2-1 (1) research and study the extent and nature of 2-2 homelessness in the county and seek to focus public attention on 2-3 the problem of the homeless through public information and 2-4 education programs; 2-5 (2) at least once a year, make recommendations to the 2-6 commissioners court relating to methods and programs to prevent and 2-7 alleviate homelessness in the county; 2-8 (3) plan, develop, coordinate, and implement 2-9 constructive methods and programs, as approved by the commissioners 2-10 court, for the prevention and alleviation of homelessness in the 2-11 county; 2-12 (4) maximize use of available funds for direct 2-13 services to the homeless in the county; and 2-14 (5) consistently monitor the expenditure of funds and 2-15 the provision of services through all programs implemented under 2-16 this section to assure that the services are effective in 2-17 preventing or alleviating homelessness. 2-18 (f) The commission may accept gifts and grants. The 2-19 commission shall deposit any money received under this subsection 2-20 in the county treasury in a special account for the homeless. 2-21 (g) If the commissioners court creates a commission for the 2-22 homeless, the commissioners court by order may require the county 2-23 clerk to charge and collect $1 for the filing of the first page of 2-24 a real property record in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 2-25 118.011, Local Government Code. The county clerk shall deposit 2-26 amounts collected under this subsection in the county treasury in a 2-27 special account for the homeless. 3-1 (h) Funds in the special account for the homeless may be 3-2 used only to implement programs approved by the commissioners court 3-3 under this section. 3-4 SECTION 2. Section 118.013(d), Local Government Code, is 3-5 amended to read as follows: 3-6 (d) The fee is in addition to any other specific fee 3-7 provided for by other statute, including a fee for the homeless 3-8 imposed by a county under Section 150.003, Human Resources Code. 3-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-15 passage, and it is so enacted.