Bill Text: TX SB1862 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a task force by the commissioner of education on students residing in temporary living arrangements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-26 - Referred to Education [SB1862 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1862-Introduced.html
  87R11356 MLH-D
 
  By: Powell S.B. No. 1862
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a task force by the commissioner of
  education on students residing in temporary living arrangements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 29.928 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.928.  TASK FORCE ON STUDENTS RESIDING IN TEMPORARY
  LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. (a) The commissioner shall establish a task
  force to identify the number of students residing in extended stay
  motels or other temporary living arrangements and study the
  educational outcomes of those students.
         (b)  The task force is composed of an odd number of not fewer
  than 13 members appointed by the commissioner and must include:
               (1)  an employee of a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school designated as a homeless education
  liaison;
               (2)  a representative of law enforcement;
               (3)  an emergency medical technician;
               (4)  a representative of a local mental health
  authority;
               (5)  a representative of an extended stay motel or
  similar temporary living shelter;
               (6)  two public school administrators;
               (7)  an employee of an institution of higher education,
  as that term is defined by Section 61.003;
               (8)  a representative from a community service entity
  that provides services to homeless people;
               (9)  a mental health services provider;
               (10)  a school counselor;
               (11)  a representative of the Texas Department of
  Housing and Community Affairs; and
               (12)  a representative of the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
         (c)  In appointing members to the task force, the
  commissioner shall appoint, to the greatest extent practicable,
  persons who reside in areas that have a significant percentage of
  homeless students, as determined by the commissioner.
         (d)  The task force shall:
               (1)  identify local, state, and other laws or
  regulations that negatively impact rates of student homelessness;
               (2)  study unseen and unintended consequences of
  students residing in extended stay motels or in other temporary
  living arrangements, including dropout rates and rates of
  prostitution, drug use, and other negative consequences;
               (3)  recommend policies and resources that would assist
  families and students residing in extended stay motels or in other
  temporary living arrangements;
               (4)  recommend methods to increase student attendance
  and educational outcomes for students residing in extended stay
  motels or in other temporary living arrangements; and
               (5)  study the impact of the coronavirus disease
  (COVID-19) pandemic on the student homelessness population.
         (e)  Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall
  submit to the legislature a report on the task force's findings and
  recommendations. The agency shall post the report on the agency's
  Internet website.
         (f)  The task force is abolished and this section expires
  September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the commissioner of education shall appoint the
  members of the task force established under Section 29.928,
  Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  The commissioner of education is required to
  implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
  specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
  appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner
  may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other money
  available for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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