Sec. 531.0411. RULES REGARDING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. (a) In this section, "local resettlement agency" and "national voluntary agency" have the meanings assigned by 45 C.F.R. Section 400.2.

(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to ensure that local governmental and community input is included in any refugee placement report required under a federal refugee resettlement program and that governmental entities and officials are provided with related information. In adopting rules under this section, the executive commissioner shall, to the extent permitted under federal law, ensure that:

(1) meetings are convened, at least quarterly, in the communities proposed for refugee placement at which representatives of local resettlement agencies have an opportunity to consult with and obtain feedback from local governmental entities and officials, including municipal and county officials, local school district officials, and representatives of local law enforcement agencies, and from other community stakeholders, including major providers under the local health care system and major employers of refugees, regarding proposed refugee placement;

(2) a local resettlement agency:

(A) considers all feedback obtained in meetings conducted under Subdivision (1) before preparing a proposed annual report on the placement of refugees for purposes of 8 U.S.C. Section 1522(b)(7)(E);

(B) informs the state and local governmental entities and officials and community stakeholders described under Subdivision (1) of the proposed annual report; and

(C) develops a final annual report for the national voluntary agencies and the commission that includes a summary regarding how stakeholder input contributed to the report; and

(3) the commission:

(A) obtains from local resettlement agencies the preliminary number of refugees the local resettlement agencies recommended to the national voluntary agencies for placement in communities throughout this state and provides that information to local governmental entities and officials in those communities; and

(B) obtains from the United States Department of State or other appropriate federal agency the number of refugees apportioned to this state and provides that information and information regarding the number of refugees intended to be placed in each community in this state to local governmental entities and officials in those communities.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1227 (S.B. 1928), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015.