MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Thursday, May 3, 2012

10:00 AM

University of North TX

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Thursday, May 3, 2012, in the University of North TX at Dallas, Room 138 A and B.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West, Chair	Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Robert Nichols, Vice Chair	Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Dan Patrick

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on January 12, 2012 and April 12, 2012.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study the impact that regulatory requirements have on the price of residential housing, including costs and benefits during the development, construction, sale, and resale of housing. Consider how regulatory loads affect the ability of the housing market to return to normal economic levels, and focus on the impact on the sale of new and used homes. Include costs and benefits of individual categories or types of regulation to allow a better assessment of ways to improve the affordability of housing.

The Chair called 2 panels to provide invited testimony, followed by public testimony, for this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

At 12:15 PM Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

At 12:25 PM Senator West resumed the Chair.

At 12:35 PM Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed until 1:05 PM.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 1:10 PM Senator West reconvened the meeting.

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to review state policies regarding the provision of affordable housing, including ways to better coordinate existing federal, state, county, and city resources to appropriately increase homeownership and make recommendations to address any issues. Identify any impediments that prevent local governments from using existing tools, such as land trusts, land banks, and other available incentives.  Study methods to improve the provision of affordable housing to special-needs populations, such as co-location with social services and coordination with mass transit.

The Chair called three panels to provide invited testimony, followed by public testimony, for this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

At 2:35 PM Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

At 2:40 PM Senator West resumed the Chair.

The Chair laid out the interim committee charge to study the most effective ways to identify and report data on homeless and runaway youth, and develop recommendations for prevention and maximizing services for this population.

The Chair called two panels to provide invited testimony, followed by public testimony, for this interim committee charge.  See attached witness list.

At 4:00 PM Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

At 4:05 PM Senator West resumed the Chair.

There being no further business, at 4:15 PM Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Royce West, Chair

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Tiffany White, Clerk