HB 2685

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
(A)  the extent of use of 2-1-1 Texas services;
(B)  demographic characteristics of 2-1-1 Texas
(C)  existing needs of 2-1-1 Texas users;
(D)  potential marketing needs; and
(E)  comparisons with similar systems in other
(2)  the database of the Texas Information and Referral
(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
(4)  referral outcome statistics for 2-1-1 Texas users;
(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,
(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);
(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.