JH S.B. 1527 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


URBAN AFFAIRS
S.B. 1527
By: Ellis (Maxey)
5-9-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, there is no home buyer education program in the State of Texas.
This bill requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
to establish a home buyer education program designed to provide
information and counseling to prospective home buyers about the home
buying process. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1527 establishes a home buyer education program.

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 Chapter 2306K, Government Code, by adding Section
2306.253, as   follows: 
  Sec. 2306.253. HOME BUYER EDUCATION PROGRAM. Requires the Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs (department) to develop and
implement a statewide home buyer education program designed to provide
information and counseling to prospective home buyers about the home
buying   process. Requires the department to implement the program by
cooperating with   certain business and governmental entities. Requires
the department and the   entities with which it is cooperating to make
full use of existing training and   information materials available from
certain sources. Authorizes the department to   use certain money
available to the department for housing purposes that the   department is
not prohibited from spending on the home buyer education program   to pay
the cost of providing the information and counseling to prospective home
buyers in this state. Requires the department to annually report to the
legislature   the number of home loans made in this state during the
previous year to persons   and families of low income, or moderate income,
and of high income. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
to implement   throughout the state the home buyer education program
established under Section   2306.253, Government Code, as added by this
Act, not later than January 31,   1999. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment #1 strikes a requirement that the department report
annually to the legislature the number of loans made.