By: Hancock S.B. No. 607
 
  (Alvarado)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2306.903(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is
  composed of:
               (1)  one representative from each of the following
  agencies, appointed by the administrative head of that agency:
                     (A)  the [Texas] Department of State Health
  Services;
                     (B)  [the Texas Department of Human Services;
                     [(C)     the Texas Department of Mental Health and
  Mental Retardation;
                     [(D)]  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
                     (C) [(E)]  the [Texas] Department of [on] Aging
  and Disability Services;
                     (D) [(F)  the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
                     [(G)]  the Texas Education Agency;
                     (E) [(H)     the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
  Abuse;
                     [(I)]  the Department of Family and Protective
  [and Regulatory] Services;
                     (F) [(J)]  the Health and Human Services
  Commission;
                     (G) [(K)]  the Texas Workforce Commission;
                     (H) [(L)]  the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
  [Youth Commission]; [and]
                     (I) [(M)]  the Texas Veterans Commission; and
                     (J)  the Department of Assistive and
  Rehabilitative Services;
               (2)  two representatives from the department who are
  appointed by the director, including at least one representative
  whose duties include management or administration of the community
  services block grant program or the emergency solutions grant
  program [one each from the community affairs division and the
  housing finance division, appointed by the director]; and
               (3)  three members representing service providers to
  the homeless, one each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2306.904(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The department shall provide clerical and advisory
  support staff and may provide fiscal support to the council.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2306.905, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2306.905.  DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a)  The council shall:
               (1)  survey current resources for services for the
  homeless in this state;
               (2)  initiate an evaluation of the current and future
  needs for the services;
               (3)  assist in coordinating and providing statewide
  services for all homeless individuals in this state;
               (4)  increase the flow of information among separate
  providers and appropriate authorities;
               (5)  develop guidelines to monitor the provision of
  services for the homeless and the methods of delivering those
  services;
               (6)  provide technical assistance to the housing
  finance division of the department in assessing the need for
  housing for individuals with special needs in different localities;
               (7)  coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission,
  local workforce development boards, homeless shelters, and public
  and private entities to provide homeless individuals information on
  services available to assist them in obtaining employment and job
  training;
               (8)  establish a central resource and information
  center for the homeless in this state; and
               (9)  ensure that local or statewide nonprofit
  organizations perform the duties under this section that the
  council is unable to perform.
         (b)  The council and each of its represented agencies may
  seek program or policy assistance from the Texas Homeless Network
  in accomplishing the council's duties.
         SECTION 4.  Section 2306.906(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Each agency shall contribute resources to the council
  unless the agency certifies in writing that the agency is unable to
  contribute resources during that fiscal period.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2306.910 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2306.910.  MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE. Notwithstanding
  Chapter 551, a member of the council who resides 20 or more miles
  away from the location of a council meeting may participate
  remotely in the meeting by telephone conference call or
  videoconference and is counted as present at the meeting for
  purposes of determining whether a quorum of the council is present.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.