87(R) HB 1925 - Enrolled version - Texas

1 ACTrelatingto prohibitionson campingin a publicplaceandto apoliticalsubdivision s designationof propertyforcampingbyhomelessindividuals; creatinga IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF ,PenalCode,is amendedby readas (a)In thissection:(1)AA"Camp"meansto residetemporarilyin a place,withshelter.(2)AA"Shelter"includes a tent,tarpaulin,lean-to,sleepingbag,bedro ll,blankets,or anyformof temporary,semipermanent,or permanentshelter,otherthanclothingor anyhandhelddevice,designedto protecta personfromweatherconditionsthatthreatenp ersonalhealthand safety.(b)AAA personcommitsan offenseif the personintentionallyor knowinglycampsin a publicplacewithoutthe effectiveconsentof theofficeror agencyhavingthelegaldutyor authoritytomanagethe publicplace.(c)AATheactor s intentor knowledgemaybe establishedthroughevidenceof activitiesassociatedwithsustaininga livingaccommodationthatare conductedin a publicplace,including:(1)AAcooking;(2)AA makinga fire;12345678910111213141516171819202122 23241(3)AAstoringpersonalbelongingsforan extendedperiod;(4)AAdigging;or(5)AAsleep ing.

2 (d)AAConsentgivenby an officeror agencyof a politicalsubdivisionis not effectivefor purposesof Subsection(b),unlessgivento authorizethe personto campfor:(1)AArecreationalpurposes;(2)AAp urposesof shelteringhomelessindividuals,iftheprope rtyon whichthecampingoccursis subjectto a planapprovedunderSubchapterPP,Chapter230 6,GovernmentCode,andthe campingoccursin a mannerthatcomplieswiththe plan;(3)AApurposespermittedby a ,NaturalResourcesCode,and thecampingoccursin a mannerthatcomplieswiththe plan;or(4)AApurposesrelatedto providingemergencyshelterduringa ,GovernmentCode,or a thatcode.(e)AAAn offenseunderthissectionis a ClassC misdemeanor.(f)AAThissectiondoesnot preemptan ordinance ,order,rule,or otherregulationadoptedby a stateagencyor politicalsubdivisionrelatingto prohibitingcampingin a publicplaceoraffectthe authorityof a stateagencyor politicalsubdivisiontoadoptor enforcean ordinance ,order,rule,or otherregulationrelatingto prohibitingcampingin a publicplaceif the ordinance ,order,rule,or otherregulation:(1)AAis compatiblewithand equalto or offenseprescribedby thissection;or(2)AArelatesto an issuenot specificallyaddressedbythissection.

3 (g)AAExceptas providedby Subsection(h),beforeor at thetimea peaceofficerissuesa citationto a personfor an offenseunderthissection,the peaceofficermustmakea reasonableeffortto:(1)AAadvisethe personof an alternativeplaceat whichthe personmay lawfullycamp;and(2)AAcontact,ifreasonabl eandappropriate,anappropriateofficialof thepoliticalsubdivisionin whichthepublicplaceis located,or an appropriatenonprofitorganizationoperatin gwithinthatpoliticalsubdivision,andreque sttheofficialor organizationto providethe personwith:(A)AAinformationregardingthep reventionofhumantrafficking;or(B)AAanyot herservicesthatwouldreducethelikelihoodo f thepersonsuspectedof committingtheoffensecontinuingto campin the publicplace.(h)AASubsection(g)doesnotapp lyif thepeaceofficerdeterminesthereis an imminentthreatto the healthor safetyofanypersonto theextentthatcompliancewiththatsubsectio nisimpracticable.

4 (i)AAIf thepersonis arrestedor detainedsolelyforanoffenseunderthissecti on,a peaceofficerenforcingthissectionshallens urethatallof theperson s personalpropertynotdesignatedas contrabandunderotherlaw is (1)AApermittingthepersonto removeallthepropertyfromthe publicplaceat the timeof the person s departure;or(2)AAtakingcustodyof thepropertyandallowingthepersonto retrievethe propertyafterthe personis releasedfromcustody.(j)AAA fee may not be chargedfor the storageor releaseofpropertyunderSubsection(i)(2). ,GovernmentCode,is amendedbyaddingSubchapterPP to readas POLITICALSUBDIVISIONFORCAMPINGBY thissubchapter,"camp"hasthe meaningassignedby , (a)A politicalsubdivisionmaynotdesignatea propertyto be usedby homelessindividualsto campunlessthe departmentapprovesa plandescribedby (b).(b)AANotlaterthanthe30thdayafterthed atethedepartmentreceivesa plansubmittedby a politicalsubdivisionunderthissubchapter, thedepartmentshallmakea finaldeterminationregardingapprovalof the (a)In thissection,"proposednewcampers"meanshom elessindividualstheapplicantintendsto allowto campat the property.

5 (b)AAA plansubmittedfor approvalunderthissubchaptermustdescribee achof the followingwithrespectto a proposedproperty:(1)AAthe availabilityof localhealthcarefor ,includingaccessto Medicaidservicesandmentalhealthservices; (2)AAthe availabilityof indigentservicesfor proposednew campers;(3)AAtheavailabilityof reasonablyaffordablepublictransportation for proposednew campers;(4)AAlocallaw enforcementresourcesin the area;and(5)AAthestepstheapplicanthastake nto coordinatewiththe localmentalhealthauthorityto providefor any proposednew campers.(c)AAAn applicantshallrespondto reasonablerequestsforadditionalinformati onmadeby thedepartmentregardingtheproposedpropert yor plandescribedby (b)if the departmentdeterminesthata propertyproposedunderthe planis a , Title11, LocalGovernmentCode,isamendedby addingChapter364 to readas thischapter:(1)AA"Localentity"means:(A)A Athegoverningbodyof a municipalityorcounty;(B)AAan officeror employeeof or a division,department,or otherbodythatis partof a municipalityor county,includinga sheriff,municipalpolicedepartment, ,or countyattorney;and(C)AAa districtattorneyor criminaldistrictattorney.

6 (2)AA"Policy"includesa formal,writtenrule, ordinance ,order,or policyand an informal,unwrittenpolicy.(3)AA"Publiccam pingban"meansa law,rule, ordinance ,order,or otherregulationthatprohibitscampingin a publicplace, , CAMPINGBANS.(a)A localentitymay not adoptor enforcea policyunderwhichthe entityprohibitsor discouragesthe enforcementof any publiccampingban.(b)AAIn compliancewithSubsection(a),a localentitymaynot prohibitor discouragea peaceofficeror prosecutingattorneywho is employedby or otherwiseunderthe directionor controlofthe entityfromenforcinga publiccampingban.(c)AAThissectiondoesnot prohibita policythatencouragesdiversionor a provisionof servicesin lieuof citationor (a)The attorneygeneralmaybringan actionin a districtcourtin TravisCountyor in acountyin whichtheprincipalofficeof theentityis locatedtoenjoina violationof (b)AATheattorneygeneralmayrecoverreasona bleexpensesincurredin obtainingreliefunderthissection,includin gcourtcosts,reasonableattorney s fees,investigativecosts,witnessfees,and STATEGRANTFUNDS.

7 (a)A localentitymay not receivestategrantfunds,and denied,forthestatefiscalyearfollowingthe yearin whicha finaljudicialdeterminationin (b)AAThecomptrollershalladoptrulesto implementthissectionuniformlyamongthe stateagenciesfromwhichstategrantfundsare distributedto a municipalityor county.(c)AAA localentitythathas not be deniedstategrantfunds,regardlessof whetherthe entityisa partof anotherentitythatis in violationof (a) Exceptas providedby Subsection(b) of thissection:(1)AASubchapterPP,Chapter230 6,GovernmentCode,asaddedby thisAct,appliesonlyto thedesignationanduseofpropertydescribedb y thatsubchapterthatfirstbeginson or afterthe effectivedateof thisAct;and(2)AAthedesignationanduseof propertydescribedbySubchapterPP, Chapter2306,GovernmentCode,as addedby thisAct,thatfirstbeganbeforethe effectivedateof thisAct is governedby the law in effectwhenthe designationand use firstbegan,andthe formerlaw is continuedin effectfor thatpurpose.

8 (b)AASubchapterPP, Chapter2306,GovernmentCode,as addedby thisAct,appliesto a publicpark,as describedby ,GovernmentCode,as addedby thisAct,regardlessof thedatethatthepublicparkwasfirstdesignat edby a politicalsubdivisionto be usedby homelessindividualsto camp.(c)AAA politicalsubdivisionthatdesignateda propertyto homelessindividualsto campbeforethe effectivedateofthisAct may applyon or afterthatdatefor approvalof a planunderSubchapterPP, Chapter2306,GovernmentCode,as addedby takeseffectSeptember1, the SenateSpeakerof the HouseAAAAAAI 1925was passedby the Houseon May 6,2021,by thefollowingvote:AAYeas88,Nays56,2 present,notvoting;and thatthe Houseconcurredin Senateamendmentsto 1925on May 28, 2021,by the followingvote:AAYeas101,Nays45,1 present,not the HouseAAAI 1925was passedby the Senate,withamendments,on May 20, 2021,by the followingvote:AAYeas27, the