TITLE: Relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless.

SUMMARY: Relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2306.903(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless is composed of: (1) one representative from each of the following agencies, appointed by the administrative head of that agency: (A) the [Texas] Department of State Health Services;(B) [the Texas Department of Human Services; [(C) the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; [(D)] the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; (C) [(E)] the [Texas] Department of [on] Aging and Disability Services;(D) [(F) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission; [(G)] the Texas Education Agency; (E) [(H) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; [(I)] the Department of Family and Protective [and Regulatory] Services; (F) [(J)] the Health and Human Services Commission; (G) [(K)] the Texas Workforce Commission; (H) [(L)] the Texas Juvenile Justice Department [Youth Commission];[and] (I) [(M)] the Texas Veterans Commission; and (J) the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services; (2) two representatives from the department who are appointed by the director,including at least one representative whose duties include management or administration of the community services block grant program or the emergency solutions grant program [one each from the community affairs division and the housing finance division, appointed by the director];and (3) three members representing service providers to the homeless, one each appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. SECTION 2. Section 2306.904(e), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (e) The department shall provide clerical and advisory support staff and may provide fiscal support to the council. SECTION 3. Section 2306.905, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 2306.905. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall: (1) survey current resources for services for the homeless in this state; (2) initiate an evaluation of the current and future needs for the services; (3) assist in coordinating and providing statewide services for all homeless individuals in this state; (4) increase the flow of information among separate providers and appropriate authorities; (5) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of services for the homeless and the methods of delivering those services; (6) provide technical assistance to the housing finance division of the department in assessing the need for housing for individuals with special needs in different localities; (7) coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission, local workforce development boards, homeless shelters, and public and private entities to provide homeless individuals information on services available to assist them in obtaining employment and job training; (8) establish a central resource and information center for the homeless in this state; and (9) ensure that local or statewide nonprofit organizations perform the duties under this section that the council is unable to perform. (b) The council and each of its represented agencies may seek program or policy assistance from the Texas Homeless Network in accomplishing the council's duties. SECTION 4. Section 2306.906(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Each agency shall contribute resources to the council unless the agency certifies in writing that the agency is unable to contribute resources during that fiscal period.SECTION 5. Subchapter KK, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2306.910 to read as follows: Sec. 2306.910. MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE. Notwithstanding Chapter 551, a member of the council who resides 20 or more miles away from the location of a council meeting may participate remotely in the meeting by telephone conference call or videoconference and is counted as present at the meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum of the council is present. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.