This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

  84R8273 LED-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 838
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the functions of the Office of Immigration and Refugee
  Affairs and the Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and
  Refugees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 752.001, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.001.  OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
  The Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs is [created] within
  the Health and Human Services Commission [Texas Department of Human
  Services]. The office shall work in conjunction with the office of
  the secretary of state.
         SECTION 2.  Section 752.003, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.003.  REFUGEE COORDINATOR.  (a)  The secretary of
  state serves as the refugee coordinator for the office unless the
  governor appoints a person under Subsection (b).
         (b)  The governor may [shall] appoint a person other than the
  secretary of state as refugee coordinator for the office to serve at
  the pleasure of the governor.
         (c)  The refugee coordinator shall serve as chief
  administrative officer of the office and shall ensure coordination
  of public and private resources in refugee resettlement.
         SECTION 3.  Section 752.004, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.004.  APPLICATION FOR AND DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL
  FUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENTS. (a)  The office shall apply for the
  maximum amount of federal funds available through the Immigration
  Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Pub. L. No. 99-603), the
  Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.),
  [and] the Refugee Act of 1980 (8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.), and
  other federal programs, as appropriate, for use in assisting state
  agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and
  faith-based organizations in addressing matters related to
  immigrants and refugees. The office shall apply for those funds and
  shall distribute the funds to agencies and other entities
  responsible for providing services to immigrants, including newly
  legalized aliens, and refugees in accordance with federal law. The
  office may retain a portion of the federal funds to cover reasonable
  costs incurred in securing and administering the funds. The office
  may delegate to an appropriate state agency the administration of
  funds under this section.
         (b)  The office shall seek reimbursement from the federal
  government for any costs incurred by state agencies, local
  governments, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based
  organizations in addressing matters related to immigrants and
  refugees.
         SECTION 4.  Section 752.007, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.007.  OTHER FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE. In addition to
  other duties prescribed by this subchapter, the office shall:
               (1)  coordinate public and private programs for the
  benefit of immigrants and refugees;
               (2)  receive and address inquiries relating to the
  services available to immigrants or refugees at the local, state,
  and federal levels; [and]
               (3)  assist local communities with the development of
  programs to address the needs of immigrants and refugees at the
  local level; and
               (4)  arrange meetings with appropriate local, state,
  and federal authorities and the appropriate corresponding
  authorities in Mexico to develop increased communication,
  cooperation, and coordination to establish initiatives and
  government-supported efforts that limit the entrance of
  undocumented immigrants into this state.
         SECTION 5.  Section 752.021, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.021.  GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION
  AND REFUGEES. The Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and
  Refugees is created within the office of the governor. The
  committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Office of
  Immigration and Refugee Affairs on immigration and refugee issues,
  including [the SLIAG program authorized by the Immigration Reform
  and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and the]
  refugee assistance programs [authorized by the Refugee Act of 1980
  (8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.)].
         SECTION 6.  Sections 752.022(a) and (c), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by the
  governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:
               (1)  two representatives of the refugee population;
               (2)  two representatives of the immigrant population;
               (3)  three representatives of local provider programs
  that serve immigrants or refugees and that receive federal funds,
  with one each from a public health program, a public assistance
  program, and an education program;
               (4)  three representatives from faith-based
  organizations that assist local governments with matters related to
  immigrants and refugees [voluntary resettlement agencies that
  receive state or federal funds];
               (5)  one representative from a legal organization that
  is involved in issues relating to immigrants or refugees; and
               (6)  one representative from a service organization
  that works with immigrants or refugees.
         (c)  The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to
  serve as the chair of the committee [for a one-year term].
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter B, Chapter 752, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 752.0231 to read as follows:
         Sec. 752.0231.  OTHER LAW.  Section 2110.008 does not apply
  to the committee.
         SECTION 8.  Section 752.024, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 752.024.  FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall:
               (1)  advise and make recommendations to the Office of
  Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding policy, planning, and
  priorities for matters related to immigrants and refugees [the
  SLIAG program and refugee assistance programs];
               (2)  advise and make recommendations to the Office of
  Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding coordination of the
  efforts of all public agencies involved in health, human services,
  and education matters that relate to federal immigration and
  refugee laws and rules [or implementation of the SLIAG program or
  refugee assistance programs];
               (3)  encourage communication and cooperation among
  local agencies and programs, state agencies, immigration-related
  and refugee-related legal and service agencies, and the federal
  government;
               (4)  assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee
  Affairs in applying for the maximum amount of federal funds
  available for immigrant-related [SLIAG-related] programs and
  activities and refugee-related programs and activities and in
  identifying local programs and costs relating to immigration or
  refugees for which the state or a political subdivision may receive
  reimbursement;
               (5)  provide information to programs and activities
  that serve and encourage legalization and education of residents of
  this state;
               (6)  review issues related to immigrants and refugees
  [federal issues regarding the SLIAG program and refugee assistance
  programs] and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration and
  Refugee Affairs to encourage the development of a state response to
  those [federal] issues;
               (7)  [review and make recommendations to the Office of
  Immigration and Refugee Affairs and state agencies to ensure that
  the system of fiscal and program operations for the SLIAG program
  and refugee assistance programs is consistent with existing state
  and federal requirements;
               [(8)] assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee
  Affairs in the development of an annual report on the status of
  matters related to immigrants and refugees [the SLIAG program and
  refugee assistance programs] in the state;
               (8) [(9)]  advise and make recommendations to the
  Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs on other related matters
  as directed by the governor; and
               (9) [(10)]  assist the Office of Immigration and
  Refugee Affairs to better address issues related to immigrants and
  refugees confronting the state and local communities [in the
  development of a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 and 1994
  proposing spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services to
  eligible legalized aliens and for other federal funds available to
  benefit immigrants or refugees in the state].
         SECTION 9.  (a)  Not later than January 1, 2016, the governor
  shall appoint the members of the Governor's Advisory Committee on
  Immigration and Refugees as provided by Section 752.022(a),
  Government Code, as amended by this Act. The committee is
  re-created on the date the governor makes the appointments as
  provided by this subsection.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 752.022(b), Government Code,
  the terms of the members of the advisory committee appointed as
  provided by Subsection (a) of this section expire February 1, 2017.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.