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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 study access to |
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telephone and Internet service among homeless veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "task force" means the |
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task force established under Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. (a) The Texas |
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Veterans Commission, in collaboration with the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas, shall establish a task force to: |
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(1) evaluate the ability of homeless veterans to |
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access telephone and Internet service; |
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(2) determine the effect that increasing a homeless |
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veteran's access to telephone and Internet service would have on |
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the homeless veteran's ability to obtain available services and |
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benefits; |
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(3) consider the potential for partnerships between |
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public and private entities to provide access to telephone and |
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Internet service to homeless veterans at a low or reduced cost; and |
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(4) assess federal, state, and private funding sources |
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available to increase access to telephone and Internet service by |
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homeless veterans. |
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(b) The task force may seek assistance from any organization |
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that serves veterans, including homeless veterans. |
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SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is |
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composed of four members as follows: |
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(1) one representative of the Texas Veterans |
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Commission; |
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(2) one representative of the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas; and |
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(3) two members appointed by the governor, including: |
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(A) one member representing telephone service |
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providers; and |
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(B) one member representing Internet service |
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providers. |
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SECTION 4. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. (a) The executive |
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director of each state agency represented on the task force shall |
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appoint an employee of the agency to serve as the agency's |
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representative on the task force not later than November 1, 2023. |
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(b) Not later than November 1, 2023, the governor shall |
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appoint two members to the task force as provided by Section 3 of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2024, the |
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task force shall prepare and submit to the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the governor, |
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the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the members of the legislature a written |
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report on its findings. |
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SECTION 6. ABOLISHMENT AND EXPIRATION. The task force is |
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abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |