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.