BWM H.B. 3078 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
H.B. 3078
By: Oliveira
4-11-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

In  recent federal BIF/SAIF legislation, the office of thrift supervision
which regulates federal S&Ls and savings banks substantially broadened the
qualified thrift lender test (QTL), which is the asset composition test
used to quantify a financial institution as a thrift.  Federal thrift
continue to be required to focus on housing lending but the categories
related to educational loans, small business loans and consumer loans were
broadened legislatively. 

PURPOSE

H.B. 3078 will provide parity for Texas savings banks for revised QTL
rules applicable to federal thrift. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2.03, Texas Savings bank Act (Article 489e,
Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). 

 Sec. 2.03 A savings bank may qualify for and maintain the asset test of
Section   7701(a)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19986 or the
qualified thrift lender test of Section 10(m) of the Home Owners Loan Act
(12 U.S.C. Section 1467a(m)).  The commissioner may grant temporary or
limited exceptions to the requirements in this section. 

SECTION 2. Emergency Clause.