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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to assist students at public institutions of |
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higher education who are homeless. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST |
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STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "Institution[, "institution] of higher education" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning |
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assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student |
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housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education |
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during an academic term but who are homeless between academic |
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terms. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at |
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least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer |
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for current and incoming students who: |
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(1) [students at the institution who] were formerly in |
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the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services; or |
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(2) are homeless. |
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(c) The liaison officer shall provide to [those] students |
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described by Subsection (b) information regarding support |
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services, including financial aid, on and off campus housing, food |
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and meal plan programs, and counseling services, and other |
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resources available to the students at the institution of higher |
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education and any other relevant information to assist the |
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students. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 51.978, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.978. TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR |
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CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF |
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DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. |
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SECTION 3. Section 51.978(a), Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows: |
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(3) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning |
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assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student |
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housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education |
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during an academic term but who are homeless between academic |
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terms. |
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SECTION 4. Section 51.978(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an |
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institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student |
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must: |
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(1) be: |
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(A) a student who has [have] been under the |
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conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services |
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or its predecessor in function on the day preceding: |
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(i) [(A)] the student's 18th birthday; or |
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(ii) [(B)] the date the student's |
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disabilities of minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31, |
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Family Code; or |
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(B) a student who is homeless; |
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(2) be enrolled full-time at the institution during |
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the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the |
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student requests the housing assistance; |
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(3) be registered or otherwise have taken the actions |
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required by the institution to permit the student to enroll |
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full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately |
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following the period for which the student requests the housing |
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assistance; and |
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(4) lack other reasonable temporary housing |
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alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions |
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(2) and (3), as determined by the institution. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9781 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9781. PRIORITY ACCESS TO STUDENT HOUSING FOR |
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STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(2) "Students who are homeless" has the meaning |
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assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. |
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|
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student |
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housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education |
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during an academic term but who are homeless between academic |
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terms. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education that maintains |
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student housing facilities shall give priority in the assignment of |
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housing in those facilities to students who are homeless. |
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SECTION 6. Section 61.0908, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0908. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST |
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STUDENTS WHO WERE FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) |
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In this section, "students who are homeless" has the meaning |
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assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. |
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|
Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student |
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housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education |
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during an academic term but who are homeless between academic |
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terms. |
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(b) The Higher Education Coordinating B[b]oard shall |
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designate at least one employee of the board to act as a liaison |
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officer for current and incoming students at institutions of higher |
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education who: |
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(1) were formerly in the conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services; or |
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(2) are homeless. |
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(c) The liaison officer shall assist in coordinating |
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college readiness and student success efforts relating to [those] |
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students described by Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |