BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1457
                                               By: Hudson (Ellis)
                                                    State Affairs
                                                          5-25-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The National Fair Housing Law of 1968 prohibits discrimination in
housing and declares it a national policy to provide for fair
housing in the United States.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1457 Requires the Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs to review certain violations relating to
discrimination and to periodically report its findings to the
attorney general.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2306E, Government Code, by adding Section
2306.101, as follows:

     Sec. 2306.101.  REVIEW OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS.  (a)  Requires
     the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
     (department) to review certain violations relating to
     discrimination.
     
     (b)  Requires the department to periodically report its
       findings to the attorney general.  Requires the attorney
       general to forward to the appropriate federal authorities
       any information contained in the findings that shows a lack
       of effective enforcement of the federal fair housing laws. 
       Requires the attorney general to send to the appropriate
       federal authorities recommendations to increase the
       effective enforcement of those laws in this state.
       
       (c)  Requires the department to conduct its review under
       Subsection (a) in a manner that does not duplicate other
       efforts of the other state agencies and does not gather
       information previously gathered by a state agency.  Provides
       that agencies of the state are specifically directed to
       provide the department with information determined by those
       agencies to assist the department in carrying out its duties
       under this section.
       
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.