Campos Bill Orders A 2-1-1 Evaluation Every Two Years

The text as introduced · 492 words

89R12924 JAM-F

By: Campos
H.B. No. 2685

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an evaluation by the housing and health services

coordination council of the 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas

Information and Referral Network.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2306.1096, Government Code, is amended

by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (b-1) and amending

Subsection (b) to read as follows:

(a-1) To help inform an expansion of service-enriched

housing throughout the state, not later than August 1 of each

even-numbered year the council shall complete and submit to the

department an evaluation of the 2-1-1 services provided by the

Texas Information and Referral Network that considers:

(1) data collection from user calls and website visits

to determine:

(A) the extent of use of 2-1-1 Texas services;

(B) demographic characteristics of 2-1-1 Texas

users;

(C) existing needs of 2-1-1 Texas users;

(D) potential marketing needs; and

(E) comparisons with similar systems in other

states;

(2) the database of the Texas Information and Referral

Network with respect to:

(A) current integration status of statewide

information and state agency resources;

(B) current integration status of regional and

local information and community resources;

(C) the process of identifying new service

providers and including those providers in the database;

(D) the monitoring of local organizations and

state agencies to ensure those entities are providing updated lists

of resources to include in the 2-1-1 Texas database; and

(E) the ability to timely update

emergency-related information into the database;

(3) 2-1-1 Texas user interviews and recommendations

with respect to a user's point-of-entry experience and satisfaction

with any community resource information or referrals resulting from

the use of the service, and any other applicable 2-1-1 Texas user

recommendations;

(4) referral outcome statistics for 2-1-1 Texas users;

and

(5) 2-1-1 Texas leadership interviews and

recommendations with respect to:

(A) technology and communication enhancements,

including texting and a two-way application programming interface;

(B) measures designed to connect specialized

populations with available state and local services;

(C) practices that support area information

centers in any efforts to join with community partners to engage in

special projects that leverage the 2-1-1 Texas platform,

technology, and system; and

(D) increasing innovation, efficiency, and

system integration with state agencies and community partners.

(a-2) The Texas Information and Referral Network shall work

with the council to determine what de-identified information could

be included in the evaluation required under Subsection (a-1) to

improve the provision of service-enriched housing.

(b) The council shall develop a biennial plan to :

(1) implement the goals described by Subsection (a) ;

and

(2) improve the delivery of community resource

information and referrals by considering the results of the

evaluations conducted under Subsection (a-1) .

(b-1) The department may use funds from general revenue to

contract for services on behalf of the council in relation to the

council's duties under Subsection (a-1).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.