C.S.H.B. 2919 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2919 By: Christian Economic Development Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Some communities in Texas have been and continue to be popular retirement destinations. Many others communities have much to offer retirees but may not be well known in and outside Texas. Identifying and marketing premier Texas retirement destinations could increase the number of retirees who stay in Texas or move to Texas. CSHB 2919 authorizes the Department of Economic Development to establish the Texas Certified Retirement Community Program to encourage retirees to make their homes in Texas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Economic Development in SECTION 1 (Sec. 481.175(m), Government Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS CSHB 2919 amends the Government Code to add Section 481.175 establishing the Texas Certified Retirement Community Program to encourage retirees and potential retirees to live in those communities that have met the criteria of the department. CSHB 2919 requires the Department of Economic Development to identify issues of interest to retirees and the benefits of living in Texas. CSHB 2919 requires those communities wishing to be certified as a certified retirement community to adopt a resolution endorsing the certification, have an official sponsoring organization, have a hospital and emergency services readily accessible to the community, maintain information on the resale and rental housing market, and conduct a retiree desirability assessment. CSHB 2919 requires each local political subdivision to have a general retiree attraction committee and the following subcommittees: a community inventory/assessment subcommittee, a community relations/fund-raising subcommittee, a marketing and promotion subcommittee, and an ambassadors subcommittee. CSHB 2919 requires the retiree attraction committee to submit a marketing plan and, gain support within the community and, and submit a long-term plan. CSHB 2919 requires the department to provide assistance to each certified retirement community EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute makes conforming changes. The substitute requires the Department of Economic Development to consult with the Office of Rural Community Affairs during the research phase to establish rural parameters for program certification. The substitute requires the department to coordinate the development and planning of the program with the governor, the Office of Rural Community Affairs, and any other state or local entity interested in participating in and promoting the program.