SRC-JLB C.S.S.B. 1661 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1661 By: Madla Intergovernmental Relations 4/28/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) board of directors and members of the Executive Award and Review Advisory Committee may not communicate with applicants for housing funds about their applications during the application cycle, except at public hearings. Some believe the TDHCA board members would be better served if they were allowed to receive reports or documents from applicants prior to meetings at which decisions are made. C.S.S.B. 1661 allows applicants to submit written documentation to board members. 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 2306.1113, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 2306.1113. EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. (a) Prohibits a member of the governing board of the TDHCA (board) from communicating orally about an application with certain persons. (b) Authorizes a board member, notwithstanding Subsection (a), to communicate with a person described by that subsection at any board meeting or public hearing held with respect to the application or through written communication, excluding electronic mail and other communications via an electronic medium such as the Internet. Requires all such communication to be public information as defined by Section 552.002, Government Code, and to be included in the appropriate application file. Deletes text regarding an advisory committee member. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.