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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the feasibility of establishing a |
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centralized homelessness crisis response data system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas |
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Interagency Council for the Homeless established under Subchapter |
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KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code. |
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(b) The council shall conduct a study on the feasibility of |
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establishing a centralized homelessness crisis response data |
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system through which state agencies, local governmental entities, |
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including law enforcement agencies, court systems, school |
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districts, and emergency service providers, and other relevant |
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persons are able to share and access information related to |
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individuals who experience chronic homelessness in order to connect |
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or refer those individuals to services, including affordable |
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housing opportunities. |
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(c) In conducting the study under this section, the council |
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shall: |
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(1) consult with representatives of the entities |
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described by Subsection (b) of this section to determine the |
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challenges faced by those entities in addressing chronic |
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homelessness and how best to improve the responses to those |
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challenges; and |
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(2) assess the feasibility of the centralized |
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homelessness crisis response data system described by Subsection |
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(b) of this section to: |
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(A) collect data from other homelessness crisis |
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response data systems maintained or operated by a state agency, |
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local law enforcement agency, or other entity of this state; and |
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(B) collect, aggregate, analyze, and share |
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homelessness information with entities that have access to the |
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system. |
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(d) Not later than November 1, 2022, the council shall |
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prepare and submit to the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs a written report that summarizes the results of the study |
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conducted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |