By: Turner of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 679
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2015;
  April 23, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
  and Human Services; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 4; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         SchwertnerX
         KolkhorstX
         CampbellX
         EstesX
         PerryX
         RodríguezX
         TaylorofCollinX
         UrestiX
         ZaffiriniX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a study on homeless youth.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter OO to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER OO. HOMELESS YOUTH
         Sec. 2306.1101.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "homeless
  youth" means a person who is younger than 19 years of age, including
  a migratory child, as defined by Section 1309, Elementary and
  Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6399), who:
               (1)  lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
  residence, including a person who is:
                     (A)  temporarily allowed to stay in the house of
  another person due to loss of housing;
                     (B)  temporarily living in a motel or hotel;
                     (C)  living in an emergency shelter;
                     (D)  abandoned in a hospital; or
                     (E)  awaiting foster care placement;
               (2)  has a primary nighttime residence that is a public
  or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular
  sleeping accommodation for humans; or
               (3)  is living in a car, park, other public space,
  abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or
  similar setting.
         Sec. 2306.1102.  STUDY ON HOMELESS YOUTH. (a)  The
  department, in conjunction with other members of the Texas
  Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter
  KK, shall conduct a study on homeless youth.
         (b)  In conducting the study, the department shall:
               (1)  collect data on the number of homeless youth in
  this state;
               (2)  examine the needs of homeless youth and the degree
  to which current programs are meeting those needs;
               (3)  identify any sources of funding that might be
  available to provide services to homeless youth; and
               (4)  develop a strategic plan establishing steps to be
  taken and timelines for reducing youth homelessness in this state.
         (c)  The department shall submit a report on the study to the
  legislature not later than December 1, 2016.  The report must
  include a summary of the information resulting from the study and
  recommendations for changes in law necessary to provide services to
  or otherwise assist homeless youth.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2017.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
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