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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the task force on asylum-seeking |
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children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter R to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER R. TASK FORCE ON ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN |
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Sec. 403.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Asylum-seeking child" means a minor fleeing |
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Central America who is seeking asylum in the United States and who |
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has been released into a community in this state by: |
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(A) the Office of Refugee Resettlement; or |
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(B) United States Customs and Border Protection |
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or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pending an |
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immigration hearing. |
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(2) "Task force" means the task force on |
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asylum-seeking children. |
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Sec. 403.502. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. The task force on |
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asylum-seeking children is established to: |
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(1) study the humanitarian and fiscal impacts of the |
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presence of asylum-seeking children in this state related to: |
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(A) public education and school districts; and |
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(B) the provision of health and human services |
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and child protection; and |
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(2) produce a report outlining the status of |
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asylum-seeking children in this state and distribute that report to |
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state and federal officials. |
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Sec. 403.503. COMPOSITION. The task force is composed of |
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eight members to be appointed by the comptroller as follows: |
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(1) one representative of a faith-based organization |
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providing direct services to asylum-seeking children in this state; |
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(2) one representative of a community-based |
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organization providing direct services to asylum-seeking children |
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in this state; |
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(3) one member who is a superintendent of a school |
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district providing direct services to asylum-seeking children in |
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this state; |
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(4) one representative of a law enforcement agency; |
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(5) one representative of the Texas Education Agency; |
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(6) one representative of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission; |
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(7) one representative of the comptroller; and |
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(8) one representative of a foundation that invests in |
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humanitarian relief efforts for asylum-seeking children in this |
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state. |
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Sec. 403.504. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet in |
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person at least three times each year and may hold additional |
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meetings in person or by conference call if necessary. |
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(b) Section 551.125 applies to a meeting held by conference |
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call under this section, except that Section 551.125(b) does not |
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apply. |
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Sec. 403.505. COMPENSATION. A member of the task force may |
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not receive compensation for service on the task force. |
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Sec. 403.506. REPORT. (a) Using funds available to the |
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task force under Section 403.507, the task force shall partner with |
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an independent third party to produce a report outlining the status |
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of asylum-seeking children in this state. |
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(b) The task force shall submit the report to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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comptroller. The task force shall also submit the report to the |
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president of the United States, the secretary of the United States |
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Department of Health and Human Services, the secretary of the |
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United States Department of Education, and each member of the Texas |
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delegation to the United States Senate and House of |
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Representatives. |
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Sec. 403.507. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The |
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comptroller may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or |
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donation from any source to carry out the purposes of this |
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subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this |
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subchapter, the comptroller is not required to convene the task |
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force to produce the report if sufficient private gifts, grants, or |
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donations are not available. |
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Sec. 403.508. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and |
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this subchapter expires December 31, 2016. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2015, the |
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comptroller of public accounts shall, subject to Section 403.507, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, convene the task force |
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required under Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act. |
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(b) If the comptroller of public accounts convenes the task |
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force under Subsection (a) of this section, not later than October |
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1, 2016, the task force shall submit the report required under |
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Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |