82R1089 JAM-D

By: Lucio S.B. No. 825

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of affordable housing in rural communities and small municipalities.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2306.098 to read as follows:

Sec. 2306.098. RURAL HOUSING FIELD OFFICES. (a) The board by rule shall:

(1) establish field offices in rural areas of each uniform state service region to assist political subdivisions and nonprofit entities in developing or administering affordable housing programs in those areas; and

(2) specify the duties for each field office.

(b) The rules under Subsection (a) must include the following duties for each field office:

(1) identifying affordable housing needs for rural areas of the uniform state service region in which the field office is located;

(2) identifying state and federal programs that may address the needs identified under Subdivision (1);

(3) facilitating the development of relationships that will assist in building local capacity to address the needs identified under Subdivision (1); and

(4) providing information regarding state programs to assist in the development of affordable housing for rural areas of the uniform state service region in which the field office is located.

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

SUBCHAPTER N. OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AND SMALL MUNICIPALITY

HOUSING INITIATIVES

Sec. 2306.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "office" means the office established by Section 2306.302 to support rural community and small municipality housing initiatives.

Sec. 2306.302. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE. (a) The department shall establish an office to support rural community and small municipality housing initiatives.

(b) The department by rule shall define for purposes of this subchapter:

(1) a rural community; and

(2) a small municipality.

(c) Subject to available funding, the department by rule may establish not more than seven field offices as part of the office.

(d) The office shall work with each regional council of government to:

(1) match housing sponsors to the housing needs of rural communities and small municipalities; and

(2) identify available sources of funds for those housing needs.

(e) The office shall use funds available from the housing trust fund established under Section 2306.201 to administer capacity building programs for rural communities and small municipalities.

(f) The office shall coordinate a meeting at least two times each year between department program directors and representatives of rural communities and small municipalities to discuss best practices for rural community and small municipality housing initiatives.

(g) The office shall establish an online clearinghouse of information relating to best practices for rural community and small municipality housing initiatives.

(h) The director may assign additional duties to the office.

Sec. 2306.303. REGIONAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. (a) The office shall establish regional nonprofit housing development organizations that serve rural communities and small municipalities in accordance with the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) To implement this section, the department may use any money available to the department for the purpose, including gifts, grants, and donations and funds allocated to the state under the federal HOME Investment Partnerships program established under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12701 et seq.).

Sec. 2306.304. TRAINING. (a) The office annually shall provide to elected officials, community organizations, nonprofit organizations, and private developers a training course that addresses housing programs and techniques that increase housing opportunities in rural communities and small municipalities. The office shall provide the course at an appropriate location selected by the office and shall make the course available online in real time.

(b) The department periodically shall also provide to elected officials a training course regarding housing programs and sources of funding for these programs.

Sec. 2306.305. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ASSISTANCE. On the request of the governing body of a municipality or county, the office shall assign an employee or independent contractor to assist the municipality or county in:

(1) developing comprehensive housing plans for rural communities and small municipalities in that county;

(2) supporting housing development initiatives in those communities and municipalities; and

(3) identifying financial resources available for those plans and initiatives.

Sec. 2306.306. RURAL COMMUNITY AND SMALL MUNICIPALITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROJECTS. Notwithstanding other program rules and procedures of the department, the department may establish pilot projects to test and develop new approaches to providing housing in rural communities and small municipalities for:

(1) individuals and families of low income; and

(2) individuals and families of very low income.

Sec. 2306.307. AGRICULTURAL WORKER HOUSING INITIATIVE. (a) The office shall fund housing initiatives that serve agricultural workers and their families, including:

(1) new housing initiatives;

(2) housing rehabilitation initiatives; or

(3) tenant-based rental assistance.

(b) The office may designate as a pilot project a housing initiative implemented under this section for agricultural workers and their families.

(c) The office shall coordinate with appropriate divisions of the department to:

(1) document agricultural worker housing needs;

(2) determine whether a housing need documented by the department is critical; and

(3) develop initiatives to address those housing needs.

(d) The department may use any available funds to implement this section, including gifts, grants, and donations and funds allocated to the department under the federal HOME Investment Partnerships program established under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12701 et seq.).

(e) In this section, "agricultural worker":

(1) means a person who receives a substantial portion of income from employment that involves:

(A) the primary production of agricultural or aquacultural commodities; or

(B) the handling of agricultural or aquacultural commodities in an unprocessed state, including handling those commodities in a feedlot or a meat processing plant; and

(2) includes a person who is retired or disabled but was employed as described by Subdivision (1) at the time of that person's retirement or disablement.

SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall adopt the rules required by Subchapter N, Chapter 2306, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.