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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the system by which an application for a low income  | 
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housing tax credit is scored. | 
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       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
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       SECTION 1.  Section 2306.6710(b), Government Code, is  | 
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amended to read as follows: | 
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       (b)  If an application satisfies the threshold criteria, the  | 
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department shall score and rank the application using a point  | 
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system that: | 
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             (1)  prioritizes in descending order criteria  | 
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regarding: | 
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                   (A)  financial feasibility of the development  | 
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based on the supporting financial data required in the application  | 
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that will include a project underwriting pro forma from the  | 
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permanent or construction lender; | 
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                   (B)  quantifiable community participation with  | 
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respect to the development, evaluated on the basis of written  | 
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statements from any neighborhood organizations on record with the  | 
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state or county in which the development is to be located and whose  | 
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boundaries contain the proposed development site; | 
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                   (C)  the income levels of tenants of the  | 
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development; | 
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                   (D)  the size and quality of the units; | 
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                   (E)  the commitment of development funding by  | 
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local political subdivisions; | 
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                   (F)  [the level of community support for the 
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application, evaluated on the basis of written statements from 
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state elected officials;
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                   [(G)]  the rent levels of the units; | 
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                   (G) [(H)]  the cost of the development by square  | 
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foot; and | 
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                   (H) [(I)]  the services to be provided to tenants  | 
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of the development; and | 
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             (2)  uses criteria imposing penalties on applicants or  | 
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affiliates who have requested extensions of department deadlines  | 
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relating to developments supported by housing tax credit  | 
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allocations made in the application round preceding the current  | 
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round or a developer or principal of the applicant that has been  | 
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removed by the lender, equity provider, or limited partners for its  | 
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failure to perform its obligations under the loan documents or  | 
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limited partnership agreement. | 
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       SECTION 2.  Sections 2306.6710(f) and (g) and 2306.6718(b),  | 
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Government Code, are repealed. | 
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       SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only  | 
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to an application for a low income housing tax credit filed on or  | 
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after the effective date of this Act.  An application filed before  | 
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on  | 
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the date the application was filed, and the former law is continued  | 
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in effect for that purpose. | 
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       SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |