| (a) For purposes of this subchapter, the following
definitions apply:
(1) Business day--A day that is not a Saturday, Sunday,
or federal legal holiday. In computing a period of business days,
the first day is excluded and the last day is included. If the last
day of any period is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal legal holiday,
the period is extended to include the next day that is not a Saturday,
Sunday, or federal legal holiday.
(2) HHSC--Texas Health and Human Services Commission,
or its designee.
(3) Local resettlement agency--As defined by 45 C.F.R.
§400.2, means a local affiliate or subcontractor of a national
voluntary agency that has entered into a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement with the United States Department of State or other appropriate
federal agency to provide for the reception and initial placement
of refugees in the United States.
(4) National voluntary agency--As defined by 45 C.F.R.
§400.2, means one of the national resettlement agencies or a
state or local government that has entered into a grant, contract,
or cooperative agreement with the United States Department of State
or other appropriate federal agency to provide for the reception and
initial placement of refugees in the United States.
(b) A local resettlement agency must convene meetings
at least quarterly at which representatives of the local resettlement
agency have an opportunity to consult with and obtain feedback regarding
proposed refugee placement from, at a minimum:
(1) local governmental entities and officials, including:
(A) municipal and county officials;
(B) local school district officials; and
(C) representatives of local law enforcement agencies;
and
(2) community stakeholders, including:
(A) major providers under the local health care system;
and
(B) major employers of refugees.
(c) In addition to the quarterly meetings held under
subsection (b) of this section, local governmental entities and community
stakeholders may request to meet with a local resettlement agency
regarding refugee placement.
(1) A local resettlement agency must respond within
ten business days to a request from a local governmental entity or
community stakeholder to meet.
(2) If a request for a meeting is denied, the response
must be in writing and the reason for denial must be clearly stated.
(3) A copy of the denial must be submitted to HHSC
by the local resettlement agency no later than three business days
after it is sent to the local governmental entity or community stakeholder.
(d) To facilitate consultation and effective feedback,
local governmental entities and community stakeholders may request
information from a local resettlement agency related to the resettlement
process.
(1) A local resettlement agency must respond within
ten business days as to whether a request for information from a local
governmental entity or community stakeholder will be granted.
(2) If the request is granted, the local resettlement
agency must provide the requested information no later than twenty
business days from the date of the receipt of the request, to the
extent not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law.
(3) If a request for information is denied, the response
must be in writing and the reason for denial must be clearly stated.
(4) A copy of the denial must be submitted to HHSC
by the local resettlement agency no later than three business days
after it is sent to the local governmental entity or community stakeholder.
(e) A local resettlement agency must consider all feedback
obtained in community consultation meetings under subsections (b)
and (c) of this section in reporting annual refugee placement information
to the local refugee resettlement agency's national voluntary agency
for purposes of 8 U.S.C. Section 1522(b)(7)(E).
(f) A local resettlement agency must provide HHSC,
local governmental entities and officials, and community stakeholders
described under subsection (b) of this section a copy of proposed
annual refugee placement data for purposes of 8 U.S.C. Section 1522(b)(7)(E).
(g) A local resettlement agency must develop and submit
a final annual report to the local refugee resettlement agency's national
voluntary agency and for HHSC that includes a summary regarding how
community stakeholder input contributed to the development of an annual
refugee placement report for purposes of 8 U.S.C. Section 1522(b)(7)(E).
(h) A local resettlement agency must provide HHSC with
the preliminary number of refugees the local resettlement agencies
recommend to the national voluntary agencies for placement throughout
the State of Texas.
(i) In addition to applicable requirements specified
in Subchapter B of this chapter (relating to Contractor Requirements
for the Refugee Cash Assistance Program), Subchapter C of this chapter
(relating to Program Administration for the Refugee Cash Assistance
Program), and Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to Refugee Medical
Assistance), a contract with a local resettlement agency to provide
Refugee Cash Assistance services must comply with the requirements
of this subchapter.
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