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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on homeless veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter OO to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER OO. HOMELESS VETERANS |
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Sec. 2306.1101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "homeless |
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veteran" means a person who has served on active duty in the armed |
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forces of the United States or in the state military forces as |
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defined by Section 437.001 and who: |
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(1) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime |
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residence, including a person who: |
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(A) is temporarily allowed to stay in the house |
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of another person due to loss of housing; |
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(B) is temporarily living in a motel or hotel; |
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(C) is living in an emergency shelter; or |
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(D) will lose housing in less than 15 days; |
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(2) has a primary nighttime residence that is a public |
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or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular |
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sleeping accommodation for humans; or |
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(3) is living in a car, park, other public space, |
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abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or |
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similar setting. |
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Sec. 2306.1102. STUDY ON HOMELESS VETERANS. (a) The |
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department, in conjunction with other members of the Texas |
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Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter |
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KK, shall conduct a study and prepare a report on homeless veterans. |
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The report must include a summary of the information resulting from |
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the study and recommendations for changes in law necessary to |
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provide services to or otherwise assist homeless veterans. |
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(b) In preparing the report required under this section, the |
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department shall: |
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(1) compile existing data on the number of homeless |
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veterans in this state; |
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(2) summarize existing studies regarding the needs of |
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homeless veterans and identify the degree to which current programs |
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are meeting those needs; |
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(3) identify existing sources of funding available to |
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members of the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless to |
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provide housing and services to homeless veterans; and |
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(4) develop recommendations for reducing veteran |
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homelessness in the state. |
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(c) The department shall submit the report required by this |
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section to the legislature not later than December 1, 2016. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |