By Dutton H.B. No. 857
77R2094 QS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the authority of the commissioners court of a county to
1-3 establish a commission for the homeless and to require the
1-4 collection of a fee 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. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-10 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-11 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-12 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-13 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.