Text of section effective on April 01, 2025
Sec. 526.0004.  TEXAS INFORMATION AND REFERRAL NETWORK.  (a)  The Texas Information and Referral Network is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a statewide information and referral network that integrates existing community-based structures with state and local agencies. The network must:
(1)  include information relating to transportation services provided to clients of state and local agencies;
(2)  be capable of assisting with statewide disaster response and emergency management, including through the use of interstate agreements with out-of-state call centers to ensure preparedness and responsiveness;
(3)  include technology capable of communicating with clients of state and local agencies using electronic text messaging; and
(4)  include a publicly accessible Internet-based system to provide real-time, searchable data about the location and number of clients of state and local agencies using the system and the types of requests the clients made.
(b)  The commission shall cooperate with the council and the comptroller to establish a single method of categorizing information about health and human services to be used by the council and the network.  The network, in cooperation with the council and the comptroller, shall ensure that:
(1)  information relating to health and human services is included in each residential telephone directory published by a for-profit publisher and distributed to the public at minimal or no cost; and
(2)  the single method of categorizing information about health and human services is used in the directory.
(c)  A health and human services agency or a public or private entity receiving state-appropriated funds to provide health and human services shall provide the council and the network with information about the health and human services the agency or entity provides for inclusion in the statewide information and referral network, residential telephone directories described by Subsection (b), and any other materials produced under the council's or the network's direction.  The agency or entity shall provide the information in the format the council or the network requires and shall update the information at least quarterly or as required by the council or the network.
(d)  The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall provide the network with information regarding the department's housing and community affairs programs for inclusion in the statewide information and referral network.  The department shall provide the information in a form the commission determines and shall update the information at least quarterly.
(e)  Each local workforce development board, the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office, and each school district shall provide the network with information regarding eligibility for and availability of child-care and education services as defined by Section 526.0006 for inclusion in the statewide information and referral network.  The local workforce development boards, Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office, and school districts shall provide the information in a form the executive commissioner determines.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.