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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate the housing |
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needs of senior citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, |
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transgender, queer, or questioning. |
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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, "task force" means the task |
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force established under this section. |
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(b) The task force is established to evaluate the housing |
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needs of senior citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, |
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transgender, queer, or questioning and to develop potential housing |
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solutions to address those needs and provide to those senior |
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citizens safe, affordable housing options. In conducting the |
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evaluation, the task force shall assess the evolving housing needs |
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of senior citizens who may need to transition into a long-term care |
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facility, including an assisted living facility or a nursing |
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facility. |
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(c) The task force is composed of the following 10 members: |
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(1) the chair of the LGBTQ caucus of the house of |
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representatives, to serve as presiding officer of the task force; |
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and |
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(2) nine members appointed by the governor as follows: |
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(A) three appropriately qualified individuals |
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who are representatives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, |
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queer, or questioning community; |
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(B) three individuals with appropriate expertise |
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on issues faced by the aging population, which may include |
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representatives of the Coalition for Aging LGBT, assisted living |
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facilities, or nursing facilities; and |
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(C) three individuals with appropriate expertise |
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in the area of public safety and housing, which may include one or |
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more representatives of the Texas Department of Housing and |
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Community Affairs. |
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(d) In making the appointments under Subsection (c) of this |
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section, the governor shall seek input from appropriately qualified |
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organizations and stakeholders, including the Coalition for Aging |
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LGBT and Equality Texas. |
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(e) The governor shall make the appointments required by |
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Subsection (c) of this section not later than November 1, 2021. |
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(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. The task force may meet in person or by electronic means. |
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(g) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force but may be reimbursed for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing task force duties. The |
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task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for those |
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expenses. |
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(h) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, the legislature, and the Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs a written report |
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summarizing the results of the evaluation conducted under |
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Subsection (b) of this section and proposing potential housing |
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solutions, including any legislative recommendations. |
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(i) The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
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December 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |