1-1 By: Lucio S.B. No. 623 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 19, 1999; February 23, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 April 22, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 22, 1999, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 623 By: Whitmire 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to certain requirements applicable to the construction of 1-11 affordable housing. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter X, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is 1-14 amended by adding Section 2306.514 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 2306.514. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE 1-16 HOUSING. (a) If a person is awarded state or federal funds by the 1-17 department to construct affordable housing for individuals and 1-18 families of low and very low income, the affordable housing 1-19 identified on the person's funding application must be constructed 1-20 so that: 1-21 (1) at least one entrance door, whether located at the 1-22 front, side, or back of the building: 1-23 (A) is on an accessible route served by a ramp 1-24 or no-step entrance; and 1-25 (B) has a net clear opening of at least 30 1-26 inches; 1-27 (2) on the first floor of the building: 1-28 (A) each interior door is a standard 30-inch 1-29 door, unless the door provides access only to a closet of less than 1-30 15 square feet in area; 1-31 (B) each hallway has a width of at least 36 1-32 inches and is level, with ramped or beveled changes at each door 1-33 threshold; 1-34 (C) each bathroom wall is reinforced for 1-35 potential installation of grab bars; 1-36 (D) each electrical panel or breaker box, light 1-37 switch, or thermostat is not higher than 48 inches above the floor; 1-38 and 1-39 (E) each electrical plug or other receptacle is 1-40 at least 15 inches above the floor; and 1-41 (3) each breaker box is located inside the building on 1-42 the first floor. 1-43 (b) A person who builds affordable housing to which this 1-44 section applies may obtain a waiver from the department of the 1-45 requirement described by Subsection (a)(1)(A) if the cost of 1-46 grading the terrain to meet the requirement is prohibitively 1-47 expensive. 1-48 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 1-49 to affordable housing for which new construction begins on or after 1-50 the effective date of this Act. Affordable housing for which new 1-51 construction begins before the effective date of this Act is 1-52 covered by the law in effect when the construction began, and the 1-53 former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 1-54 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-55 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-56 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-57 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-58 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-59 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-60 * * * * *