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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 by the commissioner of |
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education on students residing in temporary living arrangements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.928 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.928. TASK FORCE ON STUDENTS RESIDING IN TEMPORARY |
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LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. (a) The commissioner shall establish a task |
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force to identify the number of students residing in extended stay |
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motels or other temporary living arrangements and study the |
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educational outcomes of those students. |
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(b) The task force is composed of an odd number of not fewer |
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than 13 members appointed by the commissioner and must include: |
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(1) an employee of a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school designated as a homeless education |
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liaison; |
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(2) a representative of law enforcement; |
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(3) an emergency medical technician; |
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(4) a representative of a local mental health |
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authority; |
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(5) a representative of an extended stay motel or |
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similar temporary living shelter; |
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(6) two public school administrators; |
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(7) an employee of an institution of higher education, |
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as that term is defined by Section 61.003; |
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(8) a representative from a community service entity |
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that provides services to homeless people; |
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(9) a mental health services provider; |
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(10) a school counselor; |
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(11) a representative of the Texas Department of |
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Housing and Community Affairs; and |
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(12) a representative of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(c) In appointing members to the task force, the |
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commissioner shall appoint, to the greatest extent practicable, |
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persons who reside in areas that have a significant percentage of |
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homeless students, as determined by the commissioner. |
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(d) The task force shall: |
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(1) identify local, state, and other laws or |
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regulations that negatively impact rates of student homelessness; |
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(2) study unseen and unintended consequences of |
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students residing in extended stay motels or in other temporary |
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living arrangements, including dropout rates and rates of |
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prostitution, drug use, and other negative consequences; |
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(3) recommend policies and resources that would assist |
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families and students residing in extended stay motels or in other |
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temporary living arrangements; |
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(4) recommend methods to increase student attendance |
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and educational outcomes for students residing in extended stay |
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motels or in other temporary living arrangements; and |
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(5) study the impact of the coronavirus disease |
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(COVID-19) pandemic on the student homelessness population. |
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(e) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall |
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submit to the legislature a report on the task force's findings and |
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recommendations. The agency shall post the report on the agency's |
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Internet website. |
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(f) The task force is abolished and this section expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the commissioner of education shall appoint the |
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members of the task force established under Section 29.928, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. The commissioner of education is required to |
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implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money |
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specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not |
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appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner |
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may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other money |
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available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |