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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) and (b-1) and amending Subsection (b) |
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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 services; |
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(B) demographic characteristics of 2-1-1 users; |
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(C) existing needs of 2-1-1 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) scenario testing to evaluate whether local call |
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specialists at area information centers are: |
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(A) well trained and professional; |
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(B) knowledgeable about local resources; |
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(C) able to quickly identify and provide |
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available resources; |
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(D) able to deliver services to the elderly, the |
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disabled, and Spanish speakers; and |
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(E) personally committed to positive outcomes |
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and user satisfaction; |
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(3) scenario testing to evaluate the 2-1-1 Texas |
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website for: |
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(A) ease of use, intuitive searches, and refined |
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searching methods; |
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(B) the ability to provide information and |
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referrals relevant to the needs presented by users; |
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(C) the ability to provide search results by |
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geographic location; |
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(D) online customer service support; |
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(E) compliance with Section 508, Rehabilitation |
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Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794d); and |
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(F) the capacity to serve as a one-stop resource |
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of direct and indirect services; |
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(4) 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 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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(5) 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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(6) referral outcome statistics for 2-1-1 Texas users; |
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and |
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(7) 2-1-1 Texas leadership interviews and |
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recommendations with respect to: |
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(A) the Texas Information and Referral Network |
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program manager; |
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(B) area information center coordinators for |
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each region of the state; |
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(C) local call specialists; |
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(D) local service providers; and |
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(E) council members. |
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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. |