SRC-JJJ S.B. 1112 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1112
By: Shapleigh
Intergovernmental Relations
7/27/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, funds are allocated from the federal Community Development Block
grant program on a regional basis to ensure the equitable distribution of
those funds to communities throughout the state.  The allocation of funds
in the state housing program, however, is currently left to the Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs (department). As a result, many
of the housing developments financed through the department are
concentrated in urban areas, leaving many smaller cities and rural areas
unfunded.  S.B. 1112 will establish the allocation of programs maintained
by the department to the state planning regions based on a formulation of
proportionale numbers of households in need of housing assistance. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1112 establishes the allocation of programs maintained by
the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to the state planning
regions based on population. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2306.111, Government Code, by adding Sections
(d), (e), and (f), to require the Department of Housing and Community
Affairs (department) to allocate housing funds provided that the
allocations are consistent with applicable federal and state requirements
and limitations.  Requires the department, if it is determined that an
insufficient number of eligible applications for assistance out of
allocated funds or credits are submitted to the department from a
particular uniform state service region, to use the unused funds and
credits allocated to that region for all other regions based on identified
need and financial feasability.  Requires the department to include in its
annual low income housing plan certain formulas and allocation targets.
Requires the department to include in its annual low income housing report
the amounts of funds and credits allocated to each uniform state service
region in the preceding year for each federal and state program affected by
certain requirements.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2000.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.