By Danburg H.B. No. 2828 74R2033 PAM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the financing of homeless assistance programs through a 1-3 fee on certain real estate transactions. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 5, Property Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter Z to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONVEYANCES 1-8 Sec. 5.901. HOMELESS ASSISTANCE FEE. (a) This section 1-9 applies to a conveyance of real property by sale for a purchase 1-10 price of $80,000 or more. 1-11 (b) A title company or other closing agent shall collect at 1-12 the closing of the purchase of property subject to this section a 1-13 fee equal to one percent of the purchase price of the property. 1-14 (c) The fee collected under this section shall be deposited 1-15 in the state treasury to the credit of the homeless assistance 1-16 fund. The fund may be used only as provided by Section 2306.0935, 1-17 Government Code. 1-18 (d) Sections 403.094 and 403.095, Government Code, do not 1-19 apply to the homeless assistance fund. 1-20 SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is 1-21 amended by adding Section 2306.0935 to read as follows: 1-22 Sec. 2306.0935. ADMINISTRATION OF HOMELESS ASSISTANCE FUND. 1-23 (a) In addition to the funds distributed under Section 2306.093, 1-24 the community affairs division shall distribute homeless assistance 2-1 funds collected under Section 5.901, Property Code. 2-2 (b) The board of the community affairs division shall 2-3 designate public or private homeless organizations that are 2-4 entitled to receive funds from the homeless assistance fund. At 2-5 least annually, the board shall review the organizations designated 2-6 to receive homeless assistance funds. The board may, in its 2-7 discretion, add or remove organizations from the designated list to 2-8 ensure that only organizations that provide housing assistance to 2-9 the homeless are listed. 2-10 (c) Before distributing funds from the homeless assistance 2-11 fund, the board of the community affairs division shall: 2-12 (1) determine the frequency of distributions made from 2-13 the fund; and 2-14 (2) adopt guidelines to ensure that the funds are 2-15 distributed to areas of the state in proportion to the homeless 2-16 problems existing in those areas. 2-17 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.