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.