BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 434
81R1952 JAM-D By: Lucio III, Leibowitz (Hinojosa)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the Energy Assistance Section at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) administers two federally funded programs that serve low-income citizens in Texas. These programs include the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program, both of which are administered through TDHCA, but are implemented by subrecipient agencies. This bill requires that all applications, forms, and educational materials provided by subrecipient agencies be available in both English and Spanish.
H.B. 434 ensures that some of the state's energy assistance programs are advertised in English and Spanish.
H.B. 434 amends current law relating to a requirement that program materials for the Energy Services Program for Low-Income Individuals be provided in certain languages.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2306.097, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 2306.097. ENERGY SERVICES PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.
(b) Requires that applications, forms, and educational materials for a program administered under Subsection (a)(1) (relating to the Energy Crisis Intervention Program), (2) (relating to the weatherization program), or (3) (relating to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) be provided in English, Spanish, and any other appropriate language.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.