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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a centralized homelessness crisis |
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response data system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2306.911 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.911. CENTRALIZED HOMELESSNESS CRISIS RESPONSE |
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DATA SYSTEM. (a) The council shall collaborate with a state agency |
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designated by the council to establish a centralized homelessness |
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crisis response data system through which state agencies, local |
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governmental entities, including law enforcement agencies, court |
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systems, school districts, and emergency service providers, and |
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other relevant persons are able to share and access information |
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related to individuals who experience chronic homelessness in order |
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to connect or refer those individuals to services, including |
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affordable housing opportunities. |
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(b) In developing the centralized homelessness crisis |
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response data system, the council and the state agency designated |
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by the council shall: |
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(1) consult with representatives of the entities |
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described by Subsection (a) to determine the challenges faced by |
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those entities in addressing chronic homelessness and how best to |
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improve the responses to those challenges; and |
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(2) enter into data sharing agreements as necessary |
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for the exchange of information relating to individuals |
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experiencing chronic homelessness through the centralized |
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homelessness crisis response data system. |
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(c) The centralized homelessness crisis response data |
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system established under this section must: |
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(1) to the extent permitted by a data sharing |
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agreement, collect data from other homelessness crisis response |
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systems maintained or operated by a state agency, local law |
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enforcement agency, or other entity of this state; and |
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(2) collect, aggregate, analyze, and share |
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homelessness information submitted to the centralized homelessness |
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crisis response data system with entities that have access to the |
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system. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2021, the Texas |
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Interagency Council for the Homeless described by Subchapter KK, |
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Chapter 2306, Government Code, or an entity designated by the |
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council shall prepare and submit to the legislature and the Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs a written report that |
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evaluates the effectiveness of the centralized homelessness crisis |
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response data system established under Section 2306.911, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, in addressing chronic |
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homelessness in this state. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |