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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain programs and pilot programs administered by the |
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Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 2306.0971 and 2306.0972 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 2306.0971. SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR |
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CERTAIN WEATHERIZATION-RELATED MEASURES. (a) In addition to the |
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Energy Services Program for Low-Income Individuals established |
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under Section 2306.097, the department shall establish a program |
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that provides financial assistance for residential |
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weatherization-related measures that do not qualify for federal |
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funds under the weatherization assistance program for low-income |
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persons but that, if performed, would allow a person to receive that |
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federal assistance. |
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(b) The department by rule shall establish eligibility |
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criteria for a person to receive financial assistance for |
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residential weatherization-related measures described by |
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Subsection (a). The criteria must ensure that any |
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weatherization-related measures performed will allow a person to |
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receive federal assistance under the weatherization assistance |
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program. The income criteria must be equivalent to the income |
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criteria for a person to receive federal assistance under the |
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weatherization assistance program. |
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Sec. 2306.0972. WEATHERIZATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department may establish a pilot program to study the effectiveness |
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of weatherization measures in increasing residential energy |
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efficiency for individuals and families of low income. |
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(b) If the department establishes a pilot program under this |
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section, not later than December 1, 2010, the department shall |
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submit a report to the legislature regarding its findings and |
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recommendations under the pilot program. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2306.260 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.260. USE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO FUND |
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PILOT PROGRAMS. The department may fund existing pilot programs or |
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create new pilot programs as appropriate using federal supplemental |
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appropriations under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of |
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2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5) or any other similar federal legislation |
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that is enacted on or after January 1, 2009. This section expires |
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December 31, 2011. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs shall adopt the rules required by Section 2306.0971, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, |
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2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act does not make an appropriation. A |
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provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program, |
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creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental |
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entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the |
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legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the |
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provision. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |