81R6837 EAH-D

By: Lucio S.B. No. 2292

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a natural disaster housing reconstruction initiative.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to encourage the development of a model reconstruction plan for future reconstruction efforts to increase the effective and efficient delivery of natural disaster recovery services by state agencies. This Act is not meant to affect ongoing reconstruction efforts.

SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE

Sec. 418.301. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The natural disaster housing reconstruction advisory committee is composed of:

(1) the executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;

(2) the executive director of the Office of Rural Community Affairs;

(3) the director of the division; and

(4) one representative of each of the following appointed by the natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator:

(A) the College of Engineering of Texas Tech University;

(B) the community and regional planning program of The University of Texas at Austin;

(C) the School of Architecture of Rice University;

(D) the School of Social Work of The University of Texas at Austin;

(E) the Texas Society of Architects;

(F) the Austin Community Design and Development Center;

(G) the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service;

(H) the Texas Association of Builders;

(I) the Texas Manufactured Housing Association;

(J) Gulf Coast Interfaith;

(K) the United States Department of Homeland Security;

(L) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(M) the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;

(N) the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville;

(O) community development corporations from two other communities affected by hurricanes; and

(P) Habitat for Humanity.

(b) The advisory committee shall develop a natural disaster reconstruction plan. In developing this plan, the advisory committee shall:

(1) evaluate existing systems of providing temporary housing to victims of natural disasters and develop alternative systems to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness;

(2) evaluate existing models for providing permanent replacement housing to victims of natural disasters;

(3) design alternatives to existing models to improve the sustainability, affordability, desirability, and quality of housing rebuilt in the event of future natural disasters;

(4) evaluate economic circumstances of elderly, disabled, and low-income victims of natural disasters and develop models for providing affordable replacement housing;

(5) recommend programs for the rapid and efficient large-scale production of temporary and permanent replacement housing following a natural disaster; and

(6) encourage the participation, coordination, and involvement of appropriate federal organizations.

(c) The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall provide funding for the advisory committee through the department's research funds.

(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.

Sec. 418.302. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR. (a) The governor shall appoint an employee of the office of the governor or the administrative head of a state agency as the natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator. The coordinator serves at the pleasure of the governor.

(b) The coordinator shall:

(1) call meetings of the advisory committee as necessary;

(2) assist the advisory committee in developing and implementing the natural disaster reconstruction plan;

(3) submit the natural disaster reconstruction plan to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the legislature;

(4) work with appropriate state agencies to address any housing-related issues, including liens, identified by the advisory committee that may assist state agencies in efforts to reconstruct homes following disasters; and

(5) encourage the participation, coordination, and involvement of appropriate federal organizations.

(c) The agency that employs the coordinator shall provide funding for the coordinator position using money from any source that may be used to respond to a natural disaster.

Sec. 418.303. HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. (a) Using the natural disaster reconstruction plan developed under this subchapter, the coordinator and advisory committee shall develop and implement a housing reconstruction demonstration program in three areas previously affected by a natural disaster. The program must provide for the replacement of at least 20 houses in each area to test the feasibility of implementing the plan in the production of replacement housing for victims of natural disasters.

(b) The program shall be implemented using available funds from the housing trust fund or any other federal or state funds available.

Sec. 418.304. ASSISTANCE AND STAFFING. The division, with the assistance of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Office of Rural Community Affairs, shall assist the coordinator and advisory committee as necessary, including by providing appropriate staff.

SECTION 3. (a) Not later than October 1, 2009, the governor shall appoint the natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator under Section 418.302, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) The natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator shall, not later than 14 days after appointment, call an initial meeting of the advisory committee under Section 418.301, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(c) Not later than 60 days after appointment of the coordinator, the advisory committee shall develop a preliminary natural disaster reconstruction plan under Section 418.301(b), Government Code, as added by this Act.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2009, the advisory committee shall submit the final natural disaster reconstruction plan.

(e) Not later than February 1, 2010, the advisory committee shall implement the housing reconstruction demonstration program established under Section 418.303, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.