BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1301
87R6110 JG-D	By: Guillen; Morales, Eddie (Zaffirini)
	Local Government
	5/15/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Persons and families living in colonias face some of the most difficult challenges in Texas, and although colonia self-help centers have been incredibly helpful in assisting colonia residents with home and property issues, there are concerns that these residents lack adequate resources and education to help them develop professional skills and achieve financial literacy.

H.B. 1301 would amend the Government Code to expand the purpose of a colonia self-help center to include assistance to persons and families of low income and very low income to improve living conditions in an applicable area and to include the provision of services to assist colonia residents in developing professional skills and achieving financial literacy.

H.B. 1301 amends current law relating to the services provided by a colonia self-help center.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 2306.586(a), (b), (c), and (d), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that the purpose of a self-help center is to assist individuals and families of low income and very low income to finance, refinance, construct, improve, or maintain a safe, suitable home and otherwise improve living conditions in the colonias' designated service area or in another area the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has determined is suitable.

(b) Requires a self-help center to set a goal to improve the living conditions of residents in the colonias designated under Section 2306.583(b) (relating to requiring TDHCA, in consultation with the colonia resident advisory committee and the appropriate self-help center, to designate five colonias in each service area to receive concentrated attention from that center), rather than 2306.583(a)(2), within a two-year period after a contract is awarded under Subchapter Z (Colonias).

(c) Authorizes a self-help center to serve individuals and families of low income and very low income by performing certain actions, including by providing other services that the self-help center, with the approval of TDHCA, determines are necessary to assist colonia residents in improving their living conditions, rather than physical living conditions, including help in developing professional skills or achieving financial literacy. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(d) Prohibits a self-help center from providing grants, financing, or mortgage loan services to purchase, build, rehabilitate, or finance construction or improvements to a home or otherwise improve living conditions in a colonia if water service and suitable wastewater disposal are not available.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.�