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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a natural disaster reconstruction |
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demonstration initiative. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. NATURAL DISASTER RECONSTRUCTION |
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DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE |
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Sec. 418.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs. |
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(2) "Initiative" means the natural disaster |
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reconstruction demonstration initiative established under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 418.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE. The division and |
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the department shall establish the natural disaster reconstruction |
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demonstration initiative. |
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Sec. 418.203. INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES. (a) In establishing |
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the initiative, the division and department shall jointly develop a |
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plan for the best methods of securing temporary housing and |
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reconstructing permanent housing for persons displaced by a natural |
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disaster. |
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(b) In developing the plan, the division and department |
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shall examine: |
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(1) ways to provide the maximum amount of housing |
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assistance on an expedited basis through the use of federal and |
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state sources of assistance; |
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(2) sources of federal, state, and private funding to |
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provide temporary and permanent housing assistance; |
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(3) the availability of federal and state surplus |
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property for temporary and permanent housing; |
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(4) the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing |
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properties or the construction of new properties to replace housing |
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lost in a natural disaster; and |
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(5) the establishment of an authority responsible for |
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administering housing programs for persons affected by a natural |
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disaster. |
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(c) In developing the initiative and plan, the division and |
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the department shall solicit input from persons impacted from past |
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natural disasters and from other interested persons. |
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Sec. 418.204. PILOT PROJECT. (a) The division and the |
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department shall conduct a pilot project to secure housing for |
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persons who, as of September 1, 2009, remain displaced by Hurricane |
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Rita or Hurricane Ike. |
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(b) This section expires January 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |