MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West Senator Dan Patrick		Senator Robert Nichols Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study the shifting geographic nature of low-income neighborhoods in urban and suburban areas, focusing on factors that contribute to economic displacement of low income homeowners and factors that contribute to beneficial redevelopment of distressed neighborhoods.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited and public testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study and make recommendations on Texas’ housing programs, with particular focus upon increasing the effectiveness of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (TDHCA) Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Program.  Examine potential rule changes to the HTC Program’s Qualified Allocation Plan to give owners of mixed-income projects seeking low-income housing credits the same opportunity to receive credits that low-income projects have, thus helping cities address the problem of a lack of adequate quality affordable housing while enhancing central city revitalization.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.  There was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study and make recommendations on Texas’ housing programs, with particular focus upon:

•                                             Significantly improving homeownership rates by evaluating Texas’ efforts to address the growing housing need.  Efforts should include assessment of the range of tools which may be used to help low-income Texans develop equity through homeownership.  Tools should be evaluated in terms of their economic development impact, leverage of federal and private funds, and how they are utilized in other states.

•                                             Evaluating the progress of affordable housing programs within the state and developing recommendations to boost the capacity of non-profits to build increased affordable housing developments.

•                                             Monitor the expansion of the Housing Trust Fund by the 80th Legislature; review the funds of other states to develop recommendations for a permanent funding source for the Texas Housing Trust Fund.

•                                             Promote home-ownership through self-help initiatives such as the Texas Bootstrap Loan Program.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited and public testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

 

At 11:31 a.m., Senator West moved that the committee stand at ease until 11:45 a.m.   

 

At 11:47 a.m., the committee reconvened.

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study and make recommendations on Texas’ housing programs, with particular focus upon examining the incidence of health and safety violations and concerns for general habitability among multi-family and single-family rental properties across the state, including properties financed or supported by the state.  Consider the adequacy of existing authority conferred by the state upon local governments to address violations of habitability standards.  Make recommendations for extension of local capacity for redress.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited and public testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study the provision of fire and emergency medical services through Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) and make recommendations concerning the provision of those services, and for reconciling potential conflicts due to overlapping taxing jurisdictions in the areas of the state served by ESDs.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited and public testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

 

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to review the process for the creation of Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and other special districts, and investigate whether the creation of a standard municipal utility district statute is feasible, and whether it would enable the legislature to more efficiently evaluate proposed districts during the legislative session.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.  There was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

 

There being no further business, at 1:07 p.m. Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chair

 

 

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Tiffany White, Clerk