By: Ellis, et al. S.B. No. 951 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the coordination of tenant services programs. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is 1-4 amended by adding Section 2306.253 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 2306.253. TENANT SERVICES PROGRAM. (a) In this 1-6 section, "tenant services" means social services, including child 1-7 care, transportation, and basic adult education, that are provided 1-8 to individuals residing in low-income housing under Title IV-A, 1-9 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.), and other 1-10 similar services. 1-11 (b) The department shall structure the requirements for the 1-12 provision of tenant services so that tenant services provided 1-13 through housing programs are coordinated with similar services 1-14 provided through state workforce development and welfare programs. 1-15 The department shall emphasize tenant services that are eligible 1-16 for additional federal matching funds through workforce development 1-17 or welfare-related programs. 1-18 (c) The department shall designate a department employee as 1-19 the tenant services program coordinator. The coordinator shall 1-20 serve as a liaison to the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas 1-21 Department of Human Services, the Department of Protective and 1-22 Regulatory Services, and the Legislative Budget Board on matters 1-23 relating to the coordination of tenant services programs. 2-1 (d) The coordinator shall meet in Austin at least quarterly 2-2 with representatives of the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas 2-3 Department of Human Services, the Department of Protective and 2-4 Regulatory Services, and the Legislative Budget Board to: 2-5 (1) update coordination of tenant services with 2-6 workforce development and welfare-related programs; 2-7 (2) discuss funding sources for tenant services 2-8 programs; and 2-9 (3) report on the status of tenant services programs, 2-10 including reporting on the number of clients and types of services 2-11 offered. 2-12 (e) Not later than December 1 preceding a regular session of 2-13 the legislature, the department shall file with the appropriate 2-14 state agencies and legislative committees a report discussing the 2-15 results of the department's program under this section. 2-16 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-21 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-22 passage, and it is so enacted.