84R18041 LED-F
 
  By: Howard, Márquez, Muñoz, Jr., Otto, Darby H.B. No. 2783
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2783:
 
  By:  Giddings C.S.H.B. No. 2783
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the task force on asylum-seeking
  children.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER R. TASK FORCE ON ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN
         Sec. 403.501.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Asylum-seeking child" means a minor fleeing
  Central America who is seeking asylum in the United States and who
  has been released into a community in this state by:
                     (A)  the Office of Refugee Resettlement; or
                     (B)  United States Customs and Border Protection
  or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pending an
  immigration hearing.
               (2)  "Task force" means the task force on
  asylum-seeking children.
         Sec. 403.502.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES.  The task force on
  asylum-seeking children is established to:
               (1)  study the humanitarian and fiscal impacts of the
  presence of asylum-seeking children in this state related to:
                     (A)  public education and school districts; and
                     (B)  the provision of health and human services
  and child protection; and
               (2)  produce a report outlining the status of
  asylum-seeking children in this state and distribute that report to
  state and federal officials.
         Sec. 403.503.  COMPOSITION. The task force is composed of
  eight members to be appointed by the comptroller as follows:
               (1)  one representative of a faith-based organization
  providing direct services to asylum-seeking children in this state;
               (2)  one representative of a community-based
  organization providing direct services to asylum-seeking children
  in this state;
               (3)  one member who is a superintendent of a school
  district providing direct services to asylum-seeking children in
  this state;
               (4)  one representative of a law enforcement agency;
               (5)  one representative of the Texas Education Agency;
               (6)  one representative of the Health and Human
  Services Commission;
               (7)  one representative of the comptroller; and
               (8)  one representative of a foundation that invests in
  humanitarian relief efforts for asylum-seeking children in this
  state.
         Sec. 403.504.  MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet in
  person at least three times each year and may hold additional
  meetings in person or by conference call if necessary.
         (b)  Section 551.125 applies to a meeting held by conference
  call under this section, except that Section 551.125(b) does not
  apply.
         Sec. 403.505.  COMPENSATION. A member of the task force may
  not receive compensation for service on the task force.
         Sec. 403.506.  REPORT. (a) Using funds available to the
  task force under Section 403.507, the task force shall partner with
  an independent third party to produce a report outlining the status
  of asylum-seeking children in this state.
         (b)  The task force shall submit the report to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
  comptroller. The task force shall also submit the report to the
  president of the United States, the secretary of the United States
  Department of Health and Human Services, the secretary of the
  United States Department of Education, and each member of the Texas
  delegation to the United States Senate and House of
  Representatives.
         Sec. 403.507.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The
  comptroller may accept on behalf of the task force a gift, grant, or
  donation from any source to carry out the purposes of this
  subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  subchapter, the comptroller is not required to convene the task
  force to produce the report if sufficient private gifts, grants, or
  donations are not available.
         Sec. 403.508.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
  this subchapter expires December 31, 2016.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  Not later than December 31, 2015, the
  comptroller of public accounts shall, subject to Section 403.507,
  Government Code, as added by this Act, convene the task force
  required under Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added
  by this Act.
         (b)  If the comptroller of public accounts convenes the task
  force under Subsection (a) of this section, not later than October
  1, 2016, the task force shall submit the report required under
  Subchapter R, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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.