BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2353

                                                                                                                                     By: Thompson

                                                                                                                                      Urban Affairs

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Texans who rent from private landlords may not be discriminated against on the basis of the color of their skin, race, religion, or other protected classes.  However, the Texas Fair Housing Act currently does not apply to housing offered by a governmental entity.

 

This means that if a public housing authority otherwise illegally discriminates against a tenant, for instance, by refusing to rent to a person because of race, the prospective resident cannot seek relief using the Texas Fair Housing Act.

 

House Bill No. 2353 would make the Texas Fair Housing Act apply to governmental entities in the same manner as private entities.

 

 

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 392.006 of the Local Government Code, by adding Property Code Chapter 301 (the “Texas Fair Housing Act”) to the list of laws with which public housing authorities are required to comply.

 

SECTION 2.  States that this law takes effect on September 1, 2007.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.