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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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(2) three members appointed by the governor; |
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(3) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(4) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(d) In making the appointments under Subsection (c) of this |
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section, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of |
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the house of representatives shall each: |
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(1) 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; and |
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(2) appoint: |
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(A) an appropriately qualified individual who is |
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a representative of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, |
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or questioning community; |
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(B) an individual with appropriate expertise on |
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issues faced by the aging population who may be a representative of |
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the Coalition for Aging LGBT, assisted living facilities, or |
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nursing facilities; and |
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(C) an individual with appropriate expertise in |
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the area of public safety and housing who may be a representative of |
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the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. |
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(e) The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker |
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of the house of representatives shall each make the appointments |
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required by Subsection (c) of this section not later than November |
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1, 2025. |
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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, 2026, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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legislature, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs a written report summarizing the results of the evaluation |
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conducted under Subsection (b) of this section and proposing |
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potential housing solutions, including any legislative |
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recommendations. |
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(i) The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
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December 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |