By: Lucio S.B. No. 2292

(In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2009; March 31, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on International Relations and Trade; April 14, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 14, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2292 By: Lucio

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 plan for future reconstruction efforts to increase the effective and efficient delivery of natural disaster housing recovery services by state agencies. This Act is not meant to delay or otherwise interfere with ongoing reconstruction efforts.

SECTION 2. Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter X-2 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER X-2. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION

INITIATIVE

Sec. 2306.541. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The director shall appoint a natural disaster housing reconstruction advisory committee composed of representatives from appropriate local, state, and federal entities and organizations and nonprofit organizations.

(b) The advisory committee shall develop a natural disaster housing 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) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.

Sec. 2306.542. HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Using the natural disaster housing reconstruction plan developed under this subchapter, the director and advisory committee shall develop, for implementation under Subsections (b) and (c), housing reconstruction demonstration pilot programs for three areas, each of which was affected by one of the three most recent federally declared natural disasters. The pilot programs must provide for the replacement of at least 20 houses in each area to test the feasibility of implementing the plan in the large-scale production of replacement housing for victims of federally declared natural disasters.

(b) The department shall provide to an interested council of government, county, or local government eligible for funding for disaster recovery under the community development block grant program:

(1) information regarding a pilot program developed under Subsection (a); and

(2) assistance in implementing a pilot program developed under Subsection (a).

(c) At the discretion of the board, the department may implement a pilot program in any of the three most recently federally declared disaster areas in which a pilot program has not been implemented by a council of government, county, or local government. The department may use any available funds to implement the pilot program.

SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2010, the executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall submit the natural disaster housing reconstruction plan developed under Subsection (b), Section 2306.541, Government Code, as added by this Act, to the governing board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

(b) Not later than March 1, 2010, the executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall provide housing reconstruction demonstration pilot program information to an interested council of government, county, or local government eligible for funding for disaster recovery under the community development block grant program.

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

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