87(R) SB 500 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the criminal offense of operating a boarding |
 
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home facility without a permit and to a study regarding the |
 
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regulation of group homes. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    Chapter 260, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
 
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by adding Section 260.0051 to read as follows: |
 
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             Sec.  260.0051.    CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a)    This section applies |
 
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only to a county or municipality that requires a person to obtain a |
 
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permit to operate a boarding home facility as authorized by Section |
 
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260.004. |
 
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             (b)    A person commits an offense if the person operates a |
 
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boarding home facility without a permit in a county or municipality |
 
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to which this section applies. |
 
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             (c)    An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.   |
 
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             SECTION  2.    (a) The Health and Human Services Commission |
 
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shall conduct a study on state and local regulation of group homes. |
 
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             (b)    The study must: |
 
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                         (1)    identify and evaluate state laws relating to the |
 
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regulation of group homes, including: |
 
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                                     (A)    a boarding home facility, as defined by |
 
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Section 260.001, Health and Safety Code; and |
 
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                                     (B)    a community home, described by Chapter 123, |
 
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Human Resources Code; |
 
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                         (2)    analyze the procedures for filing complaints |
 
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against group homes and make recommendations to expedite complaint |
 
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processes; |
 
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                         (3)    analyze complaints filed against group homes in |
 
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the preceding 10 years; |
 
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                         (4)    analyze the enforcement authority over group homes |
 
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granted to state and local governmental agencies, including the |
 
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authority of counties and municipalities to enforce boarding home |
 
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regulations; |
 
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                         (5)    recommend whether additional state and local |
 
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governmental enforcement authority over group homes is needed; |
 
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                         (6)    recommend processes to expedite the licensing of |
 
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and regulatory procedures for group homes; |
 
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                         (7)    determine whether new categories of group homes |
 
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should be licensed or regulated by state or local governmental |
 
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agencies; |
 
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                         (8)    discuss and recommend methods for identifying |
 
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unlicensed group homes; and |
 
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                         (9)    evaluate whether Section 260.011, Health and |
 
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Safety Code, which prohibits a county or municipality from |
 
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excluding boarding home facilities from residential areas by zoning |
 
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and similar regulations, prevents certain counties and |
 
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municipalities from regulating boarding home facilities. |
 
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             (c)    Not later than December 1, 2022, the Health and Human |
 
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Services Commission shall prepare a written or electronic report |
 
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that includes a summary of the results of the study conducted under |
 
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this section and any legislative recommendations based on the study |
 
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and submit the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker |
 
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of the house of representatives, and members of the standing |
 
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committees of the senate and the house of representatives with |
 
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jurisdiction over the Health and Human Services Commission. |
 
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             SECTION  3.    This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
 
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______________________________ |
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     President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House           |
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             I hereby certify that S.B.  No.  500 passed the Senate on       |
 
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April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas  31, Nays  0; and that |
 
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the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the |
 
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following vote: Yeas  31, Nays  0. |
 
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate         |
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             I hereby certify that S.B.  No.  500 passed the House, with |
 
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amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas  92, |
 
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Nays  55, one present not voting. |
 
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House       |
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Approved: |
 
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______________________________   |
 
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                       Date |