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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an assessment on the use of surplus government property |
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to provide housing to homeless veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Council" means the Texas Coordinating Council for |
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Veterans Services established by Section 434.152, Government Code. |
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(2) "Surplus government property" means unused or |
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underused federal, state, or local property, including real |
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property, historic buildings, residential buildings, and |
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commercial buildings. |
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(3) "Workgroup" means the workgroup established under |
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Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 2. ASSESSMENT; WORKGROUP. (a) The council shall |
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establish and oversee a workgroup to assess the feasibility of |
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using surplus government property to provide housing to homeless |
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veterans. |
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(b) The workgroup is composed of the executive head of each |
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of the following state agencies or that person's designee: |
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(1) the Texas Veterans Commission; |
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(2) the General Land Office; |
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(3) the Veterans' Land Board; and |
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(4) the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs. |
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(c) The council may by a majority vote include in the |
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workgroup the executive head of any other state agency not listed in |
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Subsection (b) of this section or that person's designee. |
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(d) In conducting the assessment under this section, the |
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workgroup: |
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(1) shall: |
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(A) evaluate the availability of surplus |
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government property in this state and the feasibility of developing |
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housing units on that property to provide housing to homeless |
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veterans; |
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(B) identify potential funding sources to |
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develop housing units on surplus government property, including: |
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(i) federal historic tax credits; |
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(ii) federal housing tax credits; |
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(iii) corporate and private donations; |
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(iv) other existing state and federal |
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funding sources; and |
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(v) proposed tenant rent payments; and |
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(C) identify veteran subpopulations that will |
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most benefit from a program that facilitates the use or development |
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of surplus government property to provide housing to homeless |
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veterans; and |
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(2) may consult with: |
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(A) local housing authorities; |
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(B) affordable housing developers; and |
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(C) organizations and persons with appropriate |
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and relevant expertise on the housing needs of veterans. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2024, the |
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workgroup shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written |
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report summarizing the results of the assessment conducted under |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |