80R9448 CAS-D

By: Nelson S.B. No. 1185

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain low-interest home loan programs offered by the state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1372.0221, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1372.0221. DEDICATION OF PORTION OF STATE CEILING FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS HOME LOAN PROGRAM. Until August 1, out of that portion of the state ceiling that is available exclusively for reservations by issuers of qualified mortgage bonds under Section 1372.022, $35 [$25] million shall be allotted each year and made available exclusively to the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation for the purpose of issuing qualified mortgage bonds in connection with the professional educators home loan program established under Section 2306.562.

SECTION 2. Sections 2306.553(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The public purpose of the corporation is to perform activities and services that the corporation's board of directors determines will promote the public health, safety, and welfare through the provision of adequate, safe, and sanitary housing primarily for individuals and families of low, very low, and extremely low income and[,] for persons who are eligible for loans [professional educators] under the [professional educators] home loan programs [program as] provided by Sections [Section] 2306.562 and [, for fire fighters, corrections officers, county jailers, public security officers, and peace officers under the fire fighter, law enforcement officer, and security officer home loan program as provided by Section] 2306.5621[, and for professional nursing program faculty members under the professional nursing program faculty member home loan program as provided by Section 2306.5622]. The activities and services shall include engaging in mortgage banking activities and lending transactions and acquiring, holding, selling, or leasing real or personal property.

(b) The corporation's primary public purpose is to facilitate the provision of housing by issuing qualified 501(c)(3) bonds and qualified residential rental project bonds and by making affordable loans to individuals and families of low, very low, and extremely low income and[,] to persons who are eligible for loans under the home loan programs provided by Sections 2306.562 and 2306.5621 [professional educators under the professional educators home loan program, to fire fighters, corrections officers, county jailers, public security officers, and peace officers under the fire fighter, law enforcement officer, and security officer home loan program, and to professional nursing program faculty members under the professional nursing program faculty member home loan program]. The corporation may make first lien, single family purchase money mortgage loans for single family homes only to individuals and families of low, very low, and extremely low income if the individual's or family's household income is not more than the greater of 60 percent of the median income for the state, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or 60 percent of the area median family income, adjusted for family size, as defined by that department. The corporation may make loans for multifamily developments if:

(1) at least 40 percent of the units in a multifamily development are affordable to individuals and families with incomes at or below 60 percent of the median family income, adjusted for family size; or

(2) at least 20 percent of the units in a multifamily development are affordable to individuals and families with incomes at or below 50 percent of the median family income, adjusted for family size.

SECTION 3. Sections 2306.562(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) In this section:

(1) "Allied health program faculty member" means a full-time member of the faculty of an undergraduate or graduate allied health program of a public or private institution of higher education in this state.

(1-a) "Graduate allied health program" means a postbaccalaureate certificate or master's or doctoral degree program in an allied health profession that is accredited by an accrediting entity recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(1-b) "Graduate professional nursing program" and "undergraduate professional nursing program" have the meanings assigned by Section 54.221, Education Code.

(2) "Home" means a dwelling in this state in which a professional educator intends to reside as the professional educator's principal residence.

(3) [(2)] "Mortgage lender" has the meaning assigned by Section 2306.004.

(4) [(3)] "Professional educator" means a classroom teacher, full-time paid teacher's aide, full-time librarian, full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, [or] full-time school nurse, or allied health or professional nursing program faculty member.

(5) "Professional nursing program faculty member" means a full-time member of the faculty of either an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing program.

(6) [(4)] "Program" means the professional educators home loan program.

(7) "Undergraduate allied health program" means an undergraduate degree or certificate program that:

(A) prepares students for licensure, certification, or registration in an allied health profession; and

(B) is accredited by an accrediting entity recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(b) The corporation shall establish a program to provide low-interest home mortgage loans to eligible professional educators whose income does not exceed the greater of:

(1) 115 percent of area median family income, adjusted for family size; or

(2) the maximum amount permitted by Section 143f, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [, with low-interest home mortgage loans].

SECTION 4. Sections 1372.0223 and 2306.5622, Government Code, are repealed.

SECTION 5. The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation shall aggressively pursue funding for the professional educators home loan program required by Section 2306.562, Government Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.