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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an evaluation by the housing and health services |
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coordination council of the 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas |
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Information and Referral Network. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 2306.1096, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.1096. DUTIES; ANNUAL AND BIENNIAL REPORTS |
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[REPORT]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2306.1096, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (b-1) and amending |
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Subsection (b) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) To help inform an expansion of service-enriched |
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housing throughout the state, not later than August 1 of each year |
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the council shall complete and submit to the department an |
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evaluation of the 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information |
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and Referral Network that considers: |
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(1) data collection from user calls and website visits |
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to determine: |
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(A) the extent of use of 2-1-1 Texas services; |
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(B) demographic characteristics of 2-1-1 Texas |
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users; |
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(C) existing needs of 2-1-1 Texas users; |
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(D) potential marketing needs; and |
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(E) comparisons with similar systems in other |
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states; |
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(2) the database of the Texas Information and Referral |
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Network with respect to: |
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(A) current integration status of statewide |
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information and state agency resources; |
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(B) current integration status of regional and |
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local information and community resources; |
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(C) the process of identifying new service |
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providers and including those providers in the database; |
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(D) the monitoring of local organizations and |
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state agencies to ensure those entities are providing updated lists |
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of resources to include in the 2-1-1 Texas database; and |
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(E) the ability to timely update |
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emergency-related information into the database; |
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(3) 2-1-1 Texas user interviews and recommendations |
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with respect to a user's point-of-entry experience and satisfaction |
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with any community resource information or referrals resulting from |
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the use of the service, and any other applicable 2-1-1 Texas user |
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recommendations; |
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(4) referral outcome statistics for 2-1-1 Texas users; |
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and |
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(5) 2-1-1 Texas leadership interviews and |
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recommendations with respect to: |
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(A) technology and communication enhancements, |
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including texting and a two-way application programming interface; |
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(B) measures designed to connect specialized |
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populations with available state and local services; |
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(C) practices that support area information |
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centers in any efforts to join with community partners to engage in |
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special projects that leverage the 2-1-1 Texas platform, |
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technology, and system; and |
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(D) increasing innovation, efficiency, and |
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system integration with state agencies and community partners. |
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(a-2) The Texas Information and Referral Network shall work |
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with the council to determine what de-identified information could |
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be included in the evaluation required under Subsection (a-1) to |
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improve the provision of service-enriched housing. |
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(b) The council shall develop a biennial plan to: |
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(1) implement the goals described by Subsection (a); |
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and |
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(2) improve the delivery of community resource |
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information and referrals by considering the results of the |
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evaluation conducted under Subsection (a-1). |
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(b-1) The department may use funds from general revenue to |
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contract for services on behalf of the council in relation to the |
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council's duties under Subsection (a-1). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |