88R5522 CXP-F     By: West S.B. No. 1073       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to measures to assist students enrolled at public   institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are or were   in foster care.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 51.9356.  DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST   STUDENTS WHO ARE OR WERE IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a) In   this section:                (1)  "Institution[, "institution] of higher education"   has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.                (2)  "Students who are homeless" has the meaning   assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.   Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student   housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education   during an academic term but who are homeless between academic   terms.          (b)  Each institution of higher education shall designate at   least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer   for current and incoming:                (1)  students [at the institution] who are or were   [formerly] in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and   Protective Services; and                (2)  students who are homeless.          (c)  To the extent allowed by state or federal law, an [the]   institution of higher education shall identify [those] students   described by Subsection (b) from information provided to the   institution in admission or financial aid applications or other   available resources.          (d)  An institution of higher education may designate under   Subsection (b) the same employee or employees to act as liaison   officer for each student population described in that subsection or   one or more different employees to act as liaison officer for each   of those student populations separately.           (e) [(c)]  Each semester or other academic term, an   institution of higher education shall provide to the institution's   liaison officer or officers the names of and information regarding   the students described by Subsection (b) for whom the officer is   designated.          (f)  A [(d) The] liaison officer shall provide to the   students described by Subsection (b) for whom the officer is   designated information regarding support services including   financial aid, on-campus and off-campus housing, food and meal   programs, and counseling services, [and] other resources available   to the students at the institution of higher education, and any   other relevant information to assist the students.          (g)  A [(e) The] liaison officer may participate in any   training that enables the officer to carry out the officer's duties   and coordinate with liaison officers at other educational   institutions.          (h) [(f)]  Each institution of higher education shall   publicize, including through the institution's Internet website,   social media, electronic mail, or other means of communication used   by the institution:                (1)  the name of and contact information for the   institution's liaison officer or officers; and                (2)  information regarding support services and other   resources available at the institution to the students described by   Subsection (b).          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 51.978, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 51.978.  TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR   CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO WERE [FORMERLY] UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF   DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR WHO ARE HOMELESS.          SECTION 3.  Section 51.978(a), Education Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:                (3)  "Students who are homeless" has the meaning   assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.   Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student   housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education   during an academic term but who are homeless between academic   terms.          SECTION 4.  Section 51.978(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an   institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student   must:                (1)  be:                      (A)  a student who has [have] been under the   conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services   or its predecessor in function on the day preceding:                            (i) [(A)]  the student's 18th birthday; or                            (ii) [(B)]  the date the student's   disabilities of minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31,   Family Code; or                      (B)  a student who is homeless;                (2)  be enrolled full-time at the institution during   the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the   student requests the housing assistance;                (3)  be registered or otherwise have taken the actions   required by the institution to permit the student to enroll   full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately   following the period for which the student requests the housing   assistance; and                (4)  lack other reasonable temporary housing   alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions   (2) and (3), as determined by the institution.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.9781 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.9781.  PRIORITY ACCESS TO STUDENT HOUSING FOR   STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS. (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.                (2)  "Students who are homeless" has the meaning   assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.   Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student   housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education   during an academic term but who are homeless between academic   terms.          (b)  Each institution of higher education that maintains   student housing facilities shall give priority in the assignment of   housing in those facilities to students who are homeless.          SECTION 6.  Section 61.0908, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.0908.  DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST   STUDENTS WHO WERE [FORMERLY] IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE HOMELESS.   (a) In this section, "students who are homeless" has the meaning   assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C.   Section 11434a and includes students who reside in a student   housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education   during an academic term but who are homeless between academic   terms.          (b)  The board shall designate at least one employee of the   board to act as a liaison officer for the following current and   incoming students at institutions of higher education:                (1)  students who were formerly in the conservatorship   of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and                (2)  students who are homeless.          (c)  The board may designate under Subsection (b) the same   employee or employees to act as liaison officer for each student   population described in that subsection or one or more different   employees to act as liaison officer for each of those student   populations separately. A [The] liaison officer shall assist the   students for whom the officer is designated in coordinating college   readiness and student success efforts relating to the [those]   students.          SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act apply   beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2023.