Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 1982	House Author:  Blake et al.
Effective:  9-1-05	Senate Sponsor:  Staples

            House Bill 1982 amends the Agriculture Code to create the Texas Certified Retirement Community Program within the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  The bill requires TDA to establish the program to encourage retirees and potential retirees to make their homes in Texas communities that have met the criteria for certification as a Texas certified retirement community.  The bill sets forth the mission of the program, requirements for eligibility, and criteria for a scoring system to determine whether an applicant community qualifies for certification.  If TDA finds that a community successfully meets the requirements of a Texas certified retirement community, the bill requires TDA to provide certain services to the community not later than the 90th day after the application is submitted.  The bill authorizes TDA to contract with a local or regional nonprofit organization to provide a service under this requirement and requires TDA to consult with the Office of Rural Community Affairs to establish parameters for certification of rural communities.  The bill establishes that a community's certification expires five years from the date the initial certification is issued and sets forth certain requirements for recertification.  In addition, the bill establishes the Texas certified retirement community program account as a general revenue fund account composed of application fees collected by TDA from communities seeking certification.  The bill requires TDA to adopt rules and to implement the program not later than September 1, 2006.