By Truan                                         S.B. No. 842

      75R2929 KKA-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to eligibility standards for public housing and

 1-3     determination of alternatives for increasing affordable housing in

 1-4     the border region.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  STUDY.  The Texas Department of Housing and

 1-7     Community Affairs shall:

 1-8                 (1)  assess the department's eligibility standards for

 1-9     public housing programs or assistance to determine whether the

1-10     standards should be modified to provide for more efficient spending

1-11     of federal money on housing projects statewide; and

1-12                 (2)  research alternative options and funding sources

1-13     for providing affordable housing to individuals and families of low

1-14     and very low income in the border region.

1-15           SECTION 2.  REPORT.  Not later than January 15, 1999, the

1-16     Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall prepare and

1-17     deliver to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house

1-18     of representatives, and clerks of the standing committees of the

1-19     senate and house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over

1-20     public housing a report concerning the outcome of the department's

1-21     efforts under Section 1 of this Act.  The department may include

1-22     the report required by this Act in the annual report required by

1-23     Section 2306.072, Government Code.

1-24           SECTION 3.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "border region" has the

 2-1     meaning assigned by Section 481.001, Government Code.

 2-2           SECTION 4.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation

 2-3     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.