77R13996 YDB-D
By Kitchen H.B. No. 2326
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2326:
By Noriega C.S.H.B. No. 2326
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to creating a pilot case management program to coordinate
1-3 existing health-related education, medical, housing, and job
1-4 training services to homeless people with chronic illnesses.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. The purpose of this legislation is to pilot a
1-7 coordinated approach to addressing the needs of homeless people
1-8 with chronic illnesses so that homeless people may learn to manage
1-9 their illnesses and become productive members of society. Current
1-10 state, federal, and local agencies fund separate programs that
1-11 address only one aspect of the needs of homeless people, such as
1-12 housing, job training, and medical care. Homeless people with
1-13 chronic illnesses will benefit from a coordinated approach that
1-14 comprehensively addresses the needs of homeless people.
1-15 SECTION 2. Chapter 2307, Government Code, is amended by
1-16 adding Section 2307.0045 to read as follows:
1-17 Sec. 2307.0045. PILOT CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. (a) The
1-18 council, in cooperation with the Health and Human Services
1-19 Commission, shall develop a pilot case management program for
1-20 homeless people with chronic illnesses, including diabetes and HIV
1-21 infection or AIDS. The council in cooperation with relevant state
1-22 agencies shall administer the pilot program under the direction of
1-23 the council.
1-24 (b) Using existing resources of the agencies composing the
2-1 council, the staff of the council shall:
2-2 (1) select a county with a population of more than 2.8
2-3 million in which to implement the program;
2-4 (2) identify existing services provided to homeless
2-5 people with chronic illnesses through programs of the agencies
2-6 composing the council;
2-7 (3) identify existing federal, state, county, and
2-8 local sources from which money may be available to fund the pilot
2-9 program; and
2-10 (4) create a pilot case management program for not
2-11 more than 75 homeless people with chronic illnesses using existing
2-12 financial and agency resources.
2-13 (c) The council shall select, through competitive bidding, a
2-14 nonprofit entity to implement the pilot case management program for
2-15 the homeless. The pilot program established under this section
2-16 must:
2-17 (1) provide case management services and existing
2-18 health-related education services to participants of the program;
2-19 and
2-20 (2) coordinate housing, medical, job training, and
2-21 other necessary services for the participants of the program.
2-22 (d) Not later than December 15 of each even-numbered year,
2-23 the council shall submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant
2-24 governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives regarding
2-25 the effectiveness of the pilot program established under this
2-26 section.
2-27 (e) This section expires September 1, 2005.
3-1 SECTION 3. The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless
3-2 shall implement the pilot program established under this Act not
3-3 later than November 1, 2001.
3-4 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-5 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-6 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-7 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-8 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.