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.