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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of a grant program for the |
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establishment and expansion of community collaboratives. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 539.002(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To the extent funds are appropriated to the department |
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for that purpose, the department shall make grants to entities, |
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including local governmental entities, nonprofit community |
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organizations, and faith-based community organizations, to |
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establish or expand community collaboratives that bring the public |
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and private sectors together to provide services to persons |
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experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues, or mental |
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illness. In awarding grants, the department shall give special |
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consideration to entities: |
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(1) establishing new collaboratives; [or] |
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(2) establishing or expanding collaboratives that |
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serve two or more counties, each with a population of less than |
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100,000; or |
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(3) providing services to an average of at least 50 |
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percent of persons experiencing homelessness in a geographic area |
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served by a Continuum of Care Program funded by the United States |
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Department of Housing and Urban Development according to the last |
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three Point-in-Time surveys of homelessness conducted by that |
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department. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the department |
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shall require each entity awarded a grant under this section to: |
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(1) leverage additional funding or in-kind |
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contributions from private contributors or local governments, |
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excluding state or federal funds, in an amount that is at least |
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equal to the amount of the grant awarded under this section; |
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(2) provide evidence of significant coordination and |
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collaboration between the entity, local mental health authorities, |
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municipalities, local law enforcement agencies, and other |
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community stakeholders in establishing or expanding a community |
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collaborative funded by a grant awarded under this section; and |
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(3) provide evidence of a local law enforcement policy |
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to divert appropriate persons from jails, [or] other detention |
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facilities, or mental health facilities operated by or under |
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contract with the commission to an entity affiliated with a |
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community collaborative for the purpose of providing services to |
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those persons. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 539, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 539.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 539.010. BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) The department shall |
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prepare a report that includes: |
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(1) the method by which the department chose entities |
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to award grants to under this chapter; |
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(2) the amount of each grant awarded to an entity under |
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this chapter; |
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(3) the number of individuals served by each community |
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collaborative receiving grant funds under this chapter; and |
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(4) the results of the annual review of outcome |
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measures required by Section 539.006. |
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(b) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the department shall submit a report described by Subsection (a) |
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to: |
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(1) the lieutenant governor; |
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(2) the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(3) the standing committees of the legislature having |
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primary jurisdiction over the department and state finance; and |
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(4) the Legislative Budget Board. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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539.002, Government Code, apply only to a grant awarded on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A grant awarded before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the award was made, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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