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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to studies on homeless veterans and youth. |
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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 AND YOUTH |
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Sec. 2306.1101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Homeless veteran" means a person who has served |
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on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or in the |
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state military forces as defined by Section 437.001 and who: |
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(A) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate |
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nighttime residence, including a person who is: |
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(i) temporarily allowed to stay in the |
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house of another person due to loss of housing; |
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(ii) temporarily living in a motel or |
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hotel; |
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(iii) living in an emergency shelter; or |
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(iv) abandoned in a hospital; |
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(B) has a primary nighttime residence that is a |
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public or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular |
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sleeping accommodation for humans; or |
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(C) 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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(2) "Homeless youth" means a person who is younger |
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than 25 years of age, including a migratory child as defined by |
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Section 1309, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 |
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U.S.C. Section 6399), and who: |
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(A) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate |
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nighttime residence, including a person who is: |
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(i) temporarily allowed to stay in the |
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house of another person due to loss of housing; |
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(ii) temporarily living in a motel or |
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hotel; |
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(iii) living in an emergency shelter; |
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(iv) abandoned in a hospital; or |
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(v) awaiting foster care placement; |
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(B) has a primary nighttime residence that is a |
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public or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular |
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sleeping accommodation for humans; or |
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(C) 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 the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, and the Texas Homeless Education Office, |
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shall conduct a study on homeless veterans. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the department shall: |
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(1) collect data on the number of homeless veterans in |
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this state; |
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(2) examine the needs of homeless veterans and the |
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degree to which current programs are meeting those needs; and |
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(3) identify any sources of funding that might be |
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available to provide services to homeless veterans. |
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(c) The department shall submit a report on the study to the |
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legislature not later than December 1, 2016. The report must |
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include a summary of the information resulting from the study and |
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recommendations for changes in law necessary to provide services to |
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or otherwise assist homeless veterans. |
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Sec. 2306.1103. STUDY ON HOMELESS YOUTH. (a) The |
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department, in conjunction with the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas |
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Homeless Education Office, shall conduct a study on homeless youth. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the department shall: |
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(1) collect data on the number of homeless youth in |
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this state; |
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(2) examine the needs of homeless youth and the degree |
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to which current programs are meeting those needs; and |
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(3) identify any sources of funding that might be |
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available to provide services to homeless youth. |
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(c) The department shall submit a report on the study to the |
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legislature not later than December 1, 2016. The report must |
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include a summary of the information resulting from the study and |
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recommendations for changes in law necessary to provide services to |
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or otherwise assist homeless youth. |
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Sec. 2306.1104. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires |
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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. |