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.