HB2685 - 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.

  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.