SRC-JLB C.S.S.B. 264 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 264 By: Lucio Government Organization 3/24/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE The Sunset Commission finds that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (department) has improved responsiveness to public input, making the department more accountable to public interests; assesses housing needs and allocates funds to meet the most pressing needs; and has adopted compliance rules and procedures to better ensure fair access to the housing units it funds. C.S.S.B. 264 continues the department for 12 years. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2306.022, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 2306.022. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. Provides that unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (department) is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2015, rather than 2003. SECTION 2. Amends Section 2306.6710(b), Government Code, to require the department, if an application satisfies the threshold criteria, to score and rank the application using a point system based on criteria that are adapted to regional market conditions and adopted by the department, including criteria regarding the level of community support for the application. Deletes text stating that evaluation is based on written statements of support from local and state elected officials representing constituents in areas that include the location of the development. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from original in the relating clause by including "certain application evaluations performed by" the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in addition to the continuation of that department. Differs from original by adding a new SECTION 2. Differs from original by renumbering SECTION 2 as SECTION 3.