House Bill No. 636 proposes the establishment of a statewide homeless data sharing network in Texas, aimed at facilitating the sharing and assessment of real-time data on homelessness. The bill amends Chapter 2306 of the Government Code by adding a new Subchapter QQ, which outlines the responsibilities of the department in collaboration with the Texas Homeless Network. This network will enable homeless response systems and data warehouse vendors to work together to identify individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them to available services, including housing navigation assistance, with the goal of improving health outcomes.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, stipulating that any information shared through the network that is protected under state or federal law must not be disclosed. The implementation of this network is set to begin on September 1, 2025, marking a significant step towards addressing homelessness in Texas through improved data sharing and resource allocation.

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