Amend CSHB 1819 (Senate committee printing) by striking all 
below the enacting clause and substituting the following:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 214, Local Government 
Code, is amended by adding Section 214.219 to read as follows:
	Sec. 214.219.  MINIMUM HABITABILITY STANDARDS FOR 
MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL BUILDINGS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  This 
section applies only to a municipality with a population of 1.7 
million or more.  This section does not affect the authority of a 
municipality to which this section does not apply to enact or 
enforce laws relating to multi-family rental buildings.
	(b)  In this section:                                                   
		(1)  "Multi-family rental building" means a building 
that has three or more single-family residential units.
		(2)  "Unit" means one or more rooms rented for use as a 
permanent residence under a single lease to one or more tenants.
	(c)  A municipality shall adopt an ordinance to establish 
minimum habitability standards for multi-family rental buildings, 
including requiring maintenance of proper operating conditions.
	(d)  A municipality may establish other standards as 
necessary to reduce material risks to the physical health or safety 
of tenants of multi-family rental buildings.
	(e)  A municipality shall establish a program for the 
inspection of multi-family rental buildings to determine if the 
buildings meet the minimum required habitability standards.  The 
program shall include inspections under the direction of:
		(1)  the municipality's building official, as defined 
by the International Building Code or by a local amendment to the 
code under Section 214.216;
		(2)  the chief executive of the municipality's fire 
department; and  
		(3)  the municipality's health authority, as defined by 
Section 121.021, Health and Safety Code.
	(f)  A municipality may not order the closure of a 
multi-family rental building due to a violation of an ordinance 
adopted by the municipality relating to habitability unless the 
municipality makes a good faith effort to locate housing with 
comparable rental rates in the same school district for the 
residents displaced by the closure.

	(g)  The owner of a multi-family rental building commits an 
offense if the owner violates an ordinance adopted under this 
section.  An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.  
Each day the violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
	(h)  A municipality may impose a civil penalty under Section 
54.017 for a violation of this section.
	SECTION 2.  A municipality shall adopt the minimum 
habitability standards required by Section 214.219, Local 
Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 
2010.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.