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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs; providing a penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2306.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivisions (4), (7), and (14) and adding Subdivisions |
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(4-a), (12-a), (23-a), (23-b), (26-a), (28-a), (28-b), (35), and |
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(36) to read as follows: |
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(4) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs or any successor agency. |
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(4-a) "Development funding" means: |
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(A) a loan or grant; or |
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(B) an in-kind contribution, including a |
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donation of real property, a fee waiver for a building permit or for |
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water or sewer service, or a similar contribution that: |
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(i) provides an economic benefit; and |
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(ii) results in a quantifiable cost |
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reduction for the applicable development. |
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(7) "Elderly individual" means an individual 62 [60] |
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years of age or older or of an age specified by the applicable |
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federal program. |
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(12-a) "Grant" means financial assistance that is |
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awarded in the form of money to a housing sponsor for a specific |
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purpose and that is not required to be repaid. For purposes of this |
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chapter, a grant includes a forgivable loan. |
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(14) "Housing sponsor" means[:
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[(A)] an individual, [including an individual or
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family of low and very low income or family of moderate income,] |
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joint venture, partnership, limited partnership, trust, firm, |
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corporation, limited liability company, other form of business |
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organization, or cooperative that is approved by the department as |
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qualified to own, construct, acquire, rehabilitate, operate, |
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manage, or maintain a housing development, subject to the |
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regulatory powers of the department and other terms and conditions |
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in this chapter[; or
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[(B)
in an economically depressed or blighted
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area, or in a federally assisted new community located within a
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home-rule municipality, the term may include an individual or
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family whose income exceeds the moderate income level if at least 90
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percent of the total mortgage amount available under a mortgage
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revenue bond issue is designated for individuals and families of
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low income or families of moderate income]. |
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(23-a) "Neighborhood organization" means an |
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organization that is composed of persons living near one another |
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within the organization's defined boundaries for the neighborhood |
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and that has a primary purpose of working to maintain or improve the |
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general welfare of the neighborhood. A neighborhood organization |
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includes a homeowners' association or a property owners' |
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association. |
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(23-b) "New construction" means any construction to a |
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development or a portion of a development that does not meet the |
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definition of rehabilitation under this section. |
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(26-a) "Rehabilitation" means the improvement or |
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modification of an existing residential development through an |
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alteration, addition, or enhancement. The term includes the |
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demolition of an existing residential development and the |
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reconstruction of any development units, but does not include the |
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improvement or modification of an existing residential development |
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for the purpose of an adaptive reuse of the development. |
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(28-a) "Rural area" means an area that is located: |
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(A) outside the boundaries of a primary |
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metropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan statistical area; |
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(B) within the boundaries of a primary |
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metropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan statistical area, |
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if the statistical area has a population of 25,000 or less and does |
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not share a boundary with an urban area; or |
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(C) in an area that is eligible for funding by the |
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Texas Rural Development Office of the United States Department of |
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Agriculture, other than an area that is located in a municipality |
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with a population of more than 50,000. |
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(28-b) "Rural development" means a development or |
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proposed development that is located in a rural area, other than |
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rural new construction developments with more than 80 units. |
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(35) "Uniform application and funding cycle" means an |
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application and funding cycle established under Section 2306.1111. |
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(36) "Urban area" means the area that is located |
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within the boundaries of a primary metropolitan statistical area or |
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a metropolitan statistical area other than an area described by |
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Subdivision (28-a)(B) or eligible for funding as described by |
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Subdivision (28-a)(C). |
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SECTION 2. Sections 2306.032(b) through (e), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The board shall keep [complete] minutes and complete |
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transcripts of board meetings. The department shall post the |
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transcripts on its website and shall otherwise maintain all |
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accounts, minutes, and other records related to the meetings [shall
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be maintained by the department]. |
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(c) All materials provided to the board [in the possession
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of the department] that are relevant to a matter proposed for |
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discussion at a board meeting must be posted on the department's |
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website not later than the third day before the date of the |
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meeting[, made available in hard-copy format at the department,
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filed with the secretary of state for publication by reference in
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the Texas Register, and disseminated by any other means required by
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this chapter or by Chapter 551]. |
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(d) Any materials made available to the board by the |
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department at a board meeting [The materials described by
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Subsection (c)] must be made available in hard copy format to the |
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members of the public in attendance at [as required by Subsection
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(c) not later than the seventh day before the date of] the meeting. |
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[The board may not consider at the meeting any material that is not
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made available to the public by the date required by this
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subsection.] |
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(e) The board shall conduct its meetings in accordance with |
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Chapter 551, except as otherwise required by this chapter [The
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agenda for a board meeting must state each project the staff is
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recommending for assistance by the department]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2306.039, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.039. OPEN MEETINGS AND OPEN RECORDS. (a) Except |
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as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (c), the department |
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and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation are subject to |
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Chapters 551 and 552. |
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(b) Chapters 551 and 552 do [This section does] not apply to |
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the personal or business financial information, including social |
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security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, or bank account |
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numbers, submitted by a housing sponsor or an individual or family |
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to receive [for] a loan, grant, or other housing assistance under a |
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program administered by the department or the Texas State |
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Affordable Housing Corporation or from bonds issued by the |
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department, except that the department and the corporation are |
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permitted to disclose information about any applicant in a form |
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that does not reveal the identity of the sponsor, individual, or |
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family for purposes of determining eligibility for programs and in |
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preparing reports required under this chapter. |
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(c) The department's internal auditor, fraud prevention |
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coordinator, or ethics advisor may meet in an executive session of |
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the board to discuss issues related to fraud, waste, or abuse. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 2306.040 through 2306.0503 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 2306.040. DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE |
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HEARING. On request, the department shall participate in any |
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public hearing conducted by a legislator to discuss a rule to be |
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adopted by the department. |
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Sec. 2306.041. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY. The board may impose |
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an administrative penalty on a person who violates this chapter or a |
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rule or order adopted under this chapter. |
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Sec. 2306.042. AMOUNT OF PENALTY. (a) The amount of an |
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administrative penalty may not exceed $1,000 for each violation. |
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Each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for |
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purposes of imposing a penalty. |
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(b) The amount of the penalty shall be based on: |
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(1) the seriousness of the violation, including: |
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(A) the nature, circumstance, extent, and |
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gravity of any prohibited act; and |
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(B) the hazard or potential hazard created to the |
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health, safety, or economic welfare of the public; |
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(2) the history of previous violations; |
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(3) the amount necessary to deter a future violation; |
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(4) efforts made to correct the violation; and |
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(5) any other matter that justice may require. |
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(c) The board by rule or through procedures adopted by the |
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board and published in the Texas Register shall develop a |
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standardized penalty schedule based on the criteria listed in |
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Subsection (b). |
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Sec. 2306.043. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PENALTY. |
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(a) If the director determines that a violation occurred, the |
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director shall issue to the board a report stating: |
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(1) the facts on which the determination is based; and |
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(2) the director's recommendation on the imposition of |
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the penalty, including a recommendation on the amount of the |
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penalty. |
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(b) Not later than the 14th day after the date the report is |
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issued, the director shall give written notice of the report to the |
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person. |
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(c) The notice must: |
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(1) include a brief summary of the alleged violation; |
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(2) state the amount of the recommended penalty; and |
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(3) inform the person of the person's right to a |
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hearing before the board on the occurrence of the violation, the |
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amount of the penalty, or both. |
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Sec. 2306.044. PENALTY TO BE PAID OR HEARING REQUESTED. (a) |
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Not later than the 20th day after the date the person receives the |
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notice, the person in writing may: |
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(1) accept the determination and recommended penalty |
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of the director; or |
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(2) make a request for a hearing before the board on |
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the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both. |
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(b) If the person accepts the determination and recommended |
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penalty of the director, the board by order shall approve the |
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determination and impose the recommended penalty. |
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Sec. 2306.045. HEARING. (a) If the person requests a |
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hearing before the board or fails to respond in a timely manner to |
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the notice, the director shall set a hearing and give written notice |
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of the hearing to the person. |
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(b) The board shall hold the hearing and make findings of |
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fact and conclusions of law about the occurrence of the violation |
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and the amount of a proposed penalty. |
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Sec. 2306.046. DECISION BY BOARD. (a) Based on the |
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findings of fact and conclusions of law, the board by order may: |
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(1) find that a violation occurred and impose a |
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penalty; or |
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(2) find that a violation did not occur. |
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(b) The notice of the board's order given to the person must |
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include a statement of the right of the person to judicial review of |
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the order. |
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Sec. 2306.047. OPTIONS FOLLOWING DECISION: PAY OR APPEAL. |
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Not later than the 30th day after the date the board's order becomes |
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final, the person shall: |
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(1) pay the penalty; or |
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(2) file a petition for judicial review contesting the |
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occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both. |
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Sec. 2306.048. STAY OF ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTY. (a) Within |
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the 30-day period prescribed by Section 2306.047, a person who |
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files a petition for judicial review may: |
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(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by: |
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(A) paying the penalty to the court for placement |
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in an escrow account; or |
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(B) giving the court a supersedeas bond approved |
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by the court that: |
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(i) is for the amount of the penalty; and |
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(ii) is effective until all judicial review |
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of the board's order is final; or |
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(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the |
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penalty by: |
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(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit of |
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the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the |
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penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and |
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(B) sending a copy of the affidavit to the |
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director by certified mail. |
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(b) If the director receives a copy of an affidavit under |
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Subsection (a)(2), the director may file with the court, not later |
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than the fifth day after the date the copy is received, a contest to |
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the affidavit. |
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(c) The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in |
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the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay the enforcement |
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of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The |
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person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the |
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person is financially unable to pay the penalty and to give a |
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supersedeas bond. |
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Sec. 2306.049. DECISION BY COURT. (a) Judicial review of a |
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board order imposing an administrative penalty is by trial de novo. |
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(b) If the court sustains the finding that a violation |
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occurred, the court may uphold or reduce the amount of the penalty |
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and order the person to pay the full or reduced amount of the |
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penalty. |
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(c) If the court does not sustain the finding that a |
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violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not owed |
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and may award the person reasonable attorney's fees. |
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Sec. 2306.050. REMITTANCE OF PENALTY AND INTEREST. (a) If |
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the person paid the penalty and if the amount of the penalty is |
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reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the court, the court shall |
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order, when the court's judgment becomes final, that the |
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appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted to the person. |
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(b) The interest accrues at the rate charged on loans to |
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depository institutions by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. |
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(c) The interest shall be paid for the period beginning on |
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the date the penalty is paid and ending on the date the penalty is |
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remitted. |
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Sec. 2306.0501. RELEASE OF BOND. (a) If the person gave a |
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supersedeas bond and the penalty is not upheld by the court, the |
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court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, the |
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release of the bond. |
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(b) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the amount of |
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the penalty is reduced, the court shall order the release of the |
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bond after the person pays the reduced amount. |
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Sec. 2306.0502. COLLECTION OF PENALTY. (a) If the person |
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does not pay the penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not |
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stayed, the penalty may be collected. |
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(b) The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty. |
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Sec. 2306.0503. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE. A proceeding to |
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impose the penalty is considered to be a contested case under |
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Chapter 2001. |
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SECTION 5. Section 2306.054, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The governor or director may appoint special advisory |
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councils to: |
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(1) assist the department in reviewing [adopting] |
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basic policy; or |
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(2) offer advice on technical aspects of certain |
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programs. |
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(c) A special advisory council is subject to Chapter 2110, |
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including Section 2110.008(a) but not including Section |
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2110.008(b). |
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SECTION 6. Section 2306.057(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Before the board approves any project application |
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submitted under this chapter, the department, through the division |
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with responsibility for compliance matters, shall: |
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(1) assess: |
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(A) the compliance history in this state of the |
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applicant and any affiliate of the applicant with respect to all |
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applicable requirements; and |
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(B) the compliance issues associated with the |
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proposed project; and |
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(2) provide to the board a written report regarding |
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the results of the assessments described by Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 7. Section 2306.069(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) With the approval of the attorney general, the |
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department may hire appropriate [The department shall obtain and
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evaluate information regarding the affirmative action policies and
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practices of proposed outside legal counsel. The department must
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include the evaluation in a request to the attorney general for] |
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outside legal counsel. |
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SECTION 8. Section 2306.070, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.070. BUDGET. (a) In preparing the |
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department's legislative appropriations request, the department |
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shall also prepare: |
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(1) a report detailing the fees received, on a cash |
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basis, for each activity administered by the department during each |
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of the three preceding years; |
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(2) an operating budget for the housing finance |
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division; and |
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(3) an explanation of any projected increase or |
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decrease of three percent or more in fees estimated for the |
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operating budget as compared to the fees received in the most recent |
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budget year. |
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(b) The department shall submit the report, operating |
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budget, and explanation to the Legislative Budget Board, the Senate |
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Finance Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee. |
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SECTION 9. Sections 2306.072(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Not later than March [December] 18 of each year, the |
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director shall prepare and submit to the board an annual report of |
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the department's housing activities for the preceding year. |
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(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date the board |
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receives and approves the report, the board shall submit the report |
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to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
|
representatives, and members of any legislative oversight |
|
committee. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 2306.0721(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Not later than March [December] 18 of each year, the |
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director shall prepare and submit to the board an integrated state |
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low income housing plan for the next year. |
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(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date the board |
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receives and approves the plan, the board shall submit the plan to |
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the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives. |
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SECTION 11. Section 2306.0723, Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.0723. REPORT CONSIDERED AS RULE [PUBLIC
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PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS]. [(a)] The department shall consider |
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the annual low income housing report to be a rule and in developing |
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the report shall follow rulemaking procedures required by Chapter |
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2001 [hold public hearings on the annual state low income housing
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plan and report before the director submits the report and the plan
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to the board. The department shall provide notice of the public
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hearings as required by Section 2306.0661. The published notice
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must include a summary of the report and plan. The department shall
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accept comments on the report and plan at the public hearings and
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for at least 30 days after the date of the publication of the notice
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of the hearings]. |
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[(b)
In addition to any other necessary topics relating to
|
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the report and the plan, each public hearing required by Subsection
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(a) must address:
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[(1) infrastructure needs;
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[(2) home ownership programs;
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[(3) rental housing programs;
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[(4) housing repair programs; and
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[(5)
the concerns of individuals with special needs,
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as defined by Section 2306.511.
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[(c)
The board shall hold a public hearing on the state low
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income housing report and plan before the board submits the report
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and the plan to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the
|
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house of representatives, and members of the legislature.
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[(d)
The board shall include with the report and the plan
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the board submits to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of
|
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the house of representatives, members of the legislature, and
|
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members of the advisory board formed by the department to advise on
|
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the consolidated plan a written summary of public comments on the
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report and the plan.] |
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SECTION 12. Section 2306.082, Government Code, is amended |
|
by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (d), |
|
(e), and (f) to read as follows: |
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(b) The department's procedures relating to alternative |
|
dispute resolution must designate [conform, to the extent possible,
|
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to any model guidelines issued by] the State Office of |
|
Administrative Hearings as the primary mediator and, to the extent |
|
practicable, conform to any guidelines or rules issued by that |
|
office [for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state
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agencies]. |
|
(c) The department shall designate a [trained] person |
|
employed by or appointed to the office of the director but who is |
|
not in the legal division to coordinate and process requests for the |
|
alternative dispute resolution procedures. The person must receive |
|
training from an independent source in alternative dispute |
|
resolution not later than the 180th day after the date the person |
|
was designated to coordinate and process requests for the |
|
alternative dispute resolution procedures[:
|
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[(1)
coordinate the implementation of the policy
|
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adopted under Subsection (a);
|
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[(2)
serve as a resource for any training needed to
|
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implement the procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative
|
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dispute resolution; and
|
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[(3)
collect data concerning the effectiveness of
|
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those procedures, as implemented by the department]. |
|
(d) The department shall notify a person requesting the |
|
alternative dispute resolution procedures that: |
|
(1) an alternative dispute resolution decision is not |
|
binding on the state; and |
|
(2) the department will mediate in good faith. |
|
(e) The alternative dispute resolution procedures may be |
|
requested before the board makes a final decision. |
|
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, |
|
the alternative dispute resolution procedures may not be used to |
|
unnecessarily delay a proceeding under this chapter. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 2306.092, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.092. DUTIES REGARDING CERTAIN PROGRAMS CREATED |
|
UNDER FEDERAL LAW. The department shall administer, as appropriate |
|
under policies established by the board: |
|
(1) state responsibilities for programs created under |
|
the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Section |
|
2701 et seq.); |
|
(2) programs assigned to the department under the |
|
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub.L. No. 97-35); and |
|
(3) other federal acts creating economic opportunity |
|
programs assigned to the department. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 2306.1111, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.1111. UNIFORM APPLICATION AND FUNDING CYCLES |
|
[CYCLE]. (a) Notwithstanding any other state law and to the extent |
|
consistent with federal law, the department shall establish [a] |
|
uniform application and funding cycles [cycle] for all competitive |
|
single-family and multifamily housing programs administered by the |
|
department under this chapter, other than programs involving the |
|
issuance of private activity bonds. |
|
(b) Wherever possible, the department shall use uniform |
|
threshold requirements for single-family and multifamily housing |
|
program applications, including uniform threshold requirements |
|
relating to market studies and environmental reports. |
|
SECTION 15. Sections 2306.1112(b), (c), and (d), Government |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The advisory committee must include representatives |
|
from [is composed of the director, the administrator of each of the
|
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department's programs, and one representative from each of] the |
|
department's [planning,] underwriting[,] and compliance functions |
|
and from the divisions responsible for administering federal |
|
housing funds provided to the state under the Cranston-Gonzalez |
|
National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12701 et seq.) |
|
and for administering low income housing tax credits. |
|
(c) [The advisory committee shall develop the funding
|
|
priorities required by Section 2306.111(g) and shall make funding
|
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and allocation recommendations to the board based on the ability of
|
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applicants to meet those priorities.
|
|
[(d)] The advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 2306.1113, Government Code, is amended |
|
by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), and (b) and adding Subsection |
|
(c) to read as follows: |
|
(a) During the period beginning on the date [a] project |
|
applications are [application is] filed in an application cycle and |
|
ending on the date the board makes a final decision with respect to |
|
the [any] approval of any [that] application in that cycle, a member |
|
of the board may not communicate with the following persons: |
|
(1) an [the] applicant or a related party, as defined |
|
by state law, including board rules, and federal law; and |
|
(2) any person who is: |
|
(A) active in the construction, rehabilitation, |
|
ownership, or control of a [the] proposed project, including: |
|
(i) a general partner or contractor; and |
|
(ii) a principal or affiliate of a general |
|
partner or contractor; or |
|
(B) employed as a consultant, lobbyist, or |
|
attorney by an [the] applicant or a related party. |
|
(a-1) Subject to Subsection (a-2), during the period |
|
beginning on the date [a] project applications are [application is] |
|
filed in an application cycle and ending on the date the board makes |
|
a final decision with respect to the [any] approval of any [that] |
|
application in that cycle, an employee of the department may |
|
communicate about an [the] application with the following persons: |
|
(1) the applicant or a related party, as defined by |
|
state law, including board rules, and federal law; and |
|
(2) any person who is: |
|
(A) active in the construction, rehabilitation, |
|
ownership, or control of the proposed project, including: |
|
(i) a general partner or contractor; and |
|
(ii) a principal or affiliate of a general |
|
partner or contractor; or |
|
(B) employed as a consultant, lobbyist, or |
|
attorney by the applicant or a related party. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (a-1), a board member |
|
or department employee may communicate without restriction with a |
|
person listed in Subsection (a) or (a-1) during [at] any board |
|
meeting or public hearing held with respect to the application, but |
|
not during a recess or other nonrecord portion of the meeting or |
|
hearing. |
|
(c) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the board from |
|
participating in social events at which a person with whom |
|
communications are prohibited may or will be present, provided that |
|
all matters related to applications to be considered by the board |
|
will not be discussed. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 2306.185(b), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) In implementing Subsection (a)(1) and in developing |
|
underwriting standards and application scoring criteria for the |
|
award of loans, grants, or tax credits to multifamily developments, |
|
the department shall ensure that the economic benefits of longer |
|
affordability terms, for specific terms of years as established by |
|
the board, and below market rate rents are accurately assessed and |
|
considered. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 2306.229, Government Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
(c) For each loan made for the development of multifamily |
|
housing with funds provided to the state under the |
|
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. |
|
Section 12701 et seq.), the department shall obtain a mortgagee's |
|
title policy in the amount of the loan. The department may not |
|
designate a specific title insurance company to provide the |
|
mortgagee title policy or require the borrower to provide the |
|
policy from a specific title insurance company. The borrower shall |
|
select the title insurance company to close the loan and to provide |
|
the mortgagee title policy. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 2306.359(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In evaluating an application for an issuance of private |
|
activity bonds, the department shall score and rank the application |
|
using a point system based on criteria that are adopted by the |
|
department, including criteria[:
|
|
[(1)] regarding: |
|
(1) [(A)] the income levels of tenants of the |
|
development, consistent with the funding priorities provided by |
|
Section 1372.0321; |
|
(2) [(B)] the rent levels of the units; |
|
(3) [(C)] the level of community support for the |
|
application; |
|
(4) [(D)] the period of guaranteed affordability for |
|
low income tenants; |
|
(5) [(E)] the cost per unit of the development; |
|
(6) [(F)] the size, quality, and amenities of the |
|
units; |
|
(7) [(G)] the services to be provided to tenants of |
|
the development; and |
|
(8) [(H)
the commitment of development funding by
|
|
local political subdivisions that enables additional units for
|
|
individuals and families of very low income; and
|
|
[(I)] other criteria as developed by the board[;
|
|
and
|
|
[(2)
imposing penalties on applicants who have
|
|
requested extensions of department deadlines relating to
|
|
developments supported by an issuance of private activity bonds
|
|
made in the application round preceding the current round]. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 2306.514(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) If a person is awarded state or federal funds by the |
|
department to construct single family affordable housing for |
|
individuals and families of low and very low income, the affordable |
|
housing identified on the person's funding application must be |
|
constructed so that: |
|
(1) at least one entrance door, whether located at the |
|
front, side, or back of the building: |
|
(A) is on an accessible route served by a ramp or |
|
no-step entrance; and |
|
(B) has at least a standard 36-inch door; |
|
(2) on the first floor of the building: |
|
(A) each interior door is at least a standard |
|
32-inch door, unless the door provides access only to a closet of |
|
less than 15 square feet in area; |
|
(B) each hallway has a width of at least 36 inches |
|
and is level, with ramped or beveled changes at each door threshold; |
|
(C) each bathroom wall is reinforced for |
|
potential installation of grab bars; |
|
(D) each electrical panel [or breaker box], light |
|
switch, or thermostat is not higher than 48 inches above the floor; |
|
and |
|
(E) each electrical plug or other receptacle is |
|
at least 15 inches above the floor; and |
|
(3) if the applicable building code or codes do not |
|
prescribe another location for the breaker boxes, each breaker box |
|
is located not higher than 48 inches above the floor inside the |
|
building on the first floor. |
|
SECTION 21. Subchapter DD, Chapter 2306, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 2306.6735 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.6735. REQUIRED LEASE AGREEMENT PROVISIONS. A |
|
lease agreement with a tenant in a development supported with a |
|
housing tax credit allocation must: |
|
(1) include any applicable federal or state standards |
|
identified by department rule that relate to the termination or |
|
nonrenewal of the lease agreement; and |
|
(2) be consistent with state and federal law. |
|
SECTION 22. Subchapter DD, Chapter 2306, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 2306.67171 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.67171. ELECTRONIC MAIL NOTIFICATION SERVICE. (a) |
|
The department shall maintain an electronic mail notification |
|
service to which any person in this state may electronically |
|
subscribe to receive information concerning the status of |
|
preapplications and applications under this subchapter. |
|
(b) The electronic mail notification service maintained |
|
under Subsection (a) must: |
|
(1) allow a subscriber to request for a zip code |
|
notification of: |
|
(A) the filing of any preapplication or |
|
application concerning a development that is or will be located in |
|
the zip code; |
|
(B) any change in the status of an application or |
|
preapplication described by Paragraph (A); and |
|
(C) any public hearing to be held concerning an |
|
application or preapplication described by Paragraph (A); and |
|
(2) respond to a subscriber via electronic mail not |
|
later than the later of: |
|
(A) the third business day after the date the |
|
department receives notice of an event described by Subdivision |
|
(1); or |
|
(B) if applicable, the date or dates specified by |
|
Section 2306.6717(a). |
|
(c) The department may include in an electronic mail |
|
notification sent to a subscriber any applicable information |
|
described by Section 2306.6717. |
|
SECTION 23. The Texas Department of Housing and Community |
|
Affairs shall have the electronic mail notification service |
|
required to be maintained under Section 2306.67171, Government |
|
Code, as added by this Act, fully functional and able to receive |
|
subscription requests and respond appropriately to those requests |
|
not later than January 1, 2008. |
|
SECTION 24. The following provisions of the Government Code |
|
are repealed: |
|
(1) Sections 2306.021, 2306.062, 2306.0631, |
|
2306.0661, 2306.0721(h), 2306.079, 2306.081(e), 2306.254, |
|
2306.257(b), (c), and (d), and 2306.806; |
|
(2) Subchapter N, Chapter 2306; |
|
(3) Subchapter O, Chapter 2306; |
|
(4) Subchapter BB, Chapter 2306; |
|
(5) Subchapter CC, Chapter 2306; and |
|
(6) Subchapter EE, Chapter 2306. |
|
SECTION 25. It is the intent of the legislature that the |
|
passage by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, of another |
|
bill that amends Chapter 2306, Government Code, and the amendments |
|
made by this Act shall be harmonized, if possible, as provided by |
|
Section 311.025(b), Government Code, so that effect may be given to |
|
each. If the amendments made by this Act to Chapter 2306, |
|
Government Code, and the amendments made to Chapter 2306, |
|
Government Code, by any other bill are irreconcilable, it is the |
|
intent of the legislature that this Act prevail, regardless of the |
|
relative dates of enactment of this Act and the other bill or bills, |
|
but only to the extent that any differences are irreconcilable. |
|
SECTION 26. The changes in law made by this Act relating to |
|
the evaluation of applications for financial assistance |
|
administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
|
Affairs apply only to an application submitted on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. An application submitted before the |
|
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the |
|
application was submitted, and the former law is continued in |
|
effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 27. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
|
|
|
* * * * * |