|
House Bill 2888 |
House Author: Martinez, "Mando" |
|
Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: West |
House Bill 2888 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to establish a volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) grant program to provide free assistance in preparing federal income tax returns to eligible taxpayers. To qualify for a grant, an applicant must be located in Texas and be a nonprofit organization, a political subdivision of Texas, or a regional or local coalition that meets certain criteria, and each grant recipient must enter into an agreement with TDHCA with respect to the use of grant money and submit a performance report. The bill provides for the VITA grants to be funded by not more than 0.25 percent of the money received by Texas during each state fiscal biennium under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, money received under the community services block grant program, and certain other money.
House Bill 2888 requires TDHCA to adopt policies to ensure that each housing development that receives financial assistance administered by TDHCA reserves a certain number of units in the development for individuals and families of very low income and accepts as tenants individuals and families receiving local, state, or federal government rental assistance. The bill requires TDHCA to establish enforcement mechanisms for housing developments that refuse to admit individuals and families receiving such assistance.
Reason Given for Veto: "House Bill No. 2888 would take funds away from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to fund a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program to be administered through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Taking TANF dollars away from their intended purpose of serving clients to fund this program is unnecessary. These funds should be used to benefit people, not create more government bureaucracy.
"Furthermore, tax assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit education programs are already provided by the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas’ 28 local workforce development boards, and numerous nonprofit organizations and community centers."