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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state and municipal actions to ensure compliance with |
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fair housing requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 301, Property Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. STATE AND MUNICIPAL ACTIONS FOR |
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FAIR HOUSING |
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Sec. 301.201. ADMINISTRATION OF STATE PROGRAMS AND |
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ACTIVITIES RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Each state |
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agency shall administer its programs and activities relating to |
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housing and urban development in a manner that affirmatively |
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furthers the goals of fair housing under this chapter. |
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Sec. 301.202. GOVERNOR'S FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) |
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In this section, "council" means the governor's fair housing |
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advisory council. |
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(b) The governor's fair housing advisory council is |
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established. The council is composed of the heads of each of the |
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following state agencies: |
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(1) the Office of Rural Community Affairs; |
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(2) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(3) the Texas Department of Transportation; |
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(4) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(5) the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs; and |
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(6) any other state agencies designated by the |
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governor. |
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(c) The executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Housing and Community Affairs serves as the presiding officer of |
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the council. |
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(d) The council shall review the design and delivery of |
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state programs and activities relating to housing and urban |
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development to ensure that the programs and activities support a |
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coordinated strategy to affirmatively further the goals of fair |
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housing under this chapter. As necessary to achieve the goals of |
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this chapter, the council shall: |
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(1) propose revisions to existing programs or |
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activities; |
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(2) develop pilot programs and activities; and |
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(3) propose new programs and activities. |
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(e) In support of the council's goal of cooperative efforts |
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among all state agencies, the executive director of the Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall: |
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(1) cooperate with, and render assistance to, the |
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heads of all state agencies in the formulation of policies and |
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procedures to: |
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(A) affirmatively further fair housing goals; |
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and |
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(B) provide information and guidance on the |
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affirmative administration of programs and activities relating to |
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housing and urban development and the protection of the rights |
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accorded by this chapter; and |
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(2) develop with other state agencies memoranda of |
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understanding and any necessary implementing procedures designed |
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to provide for consultation and the coordination of state efforts |
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to further fair housing goals through the affirmative |
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administration of programs and activities relating to housing and |
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urban development. |
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(f) In implementing responsibilities under this subchapter, |
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the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall adopt |
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rules that describe: |
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(1) the functions, organization, and operations of the |
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council; |
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(2) the responsibilities and obligations of state |
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agencies in ensuring that programs and activities are administered |
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and executed in a manner that furthers fair housing; |
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(3) programs and activities that affirmatively |
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further the goals of fair housing; and |
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(4) a method to identify impediments in programs or |
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activities that restrict fair housing choice and implement |
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incentives that will maximize the success of practices that |
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affirmatively further fair housing goals. |
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Sec. 301.203. MUNICIPALITIES. Each municipality shall |
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administer municipal programs and activities relating to housing |
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and urban development in a manner that affirmatively furthers the |
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goals of fair housing under this chapter. |
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Sec. 301.204. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) The Texas Department of |
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Housing and Community Affairs shall prepare an annual report |
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describing the progress of the department and other state agencies |
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in carrying out requirements and responsibilities under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) The department shall submit the report required under |
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Subsection (a) not later than December 1 of each year to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the appropriate committees of the senate and |
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the house of representatives. |
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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. |