BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3196

By: Cortez

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the Texas Workforce Commission's mechanism for monitoring compliance with conciliation agreements entered into under the Texas Fair Housing Act is in need of certain specification. H.B. 3196 seeks to address this issue by providing such specification.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3196 amends the Property Code to authorize the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to monitor the compliance of a respondent in a complaint of discriminatory housing practice with a conciliation agreement entered into under the Texas Fair Housing Act. The bill requires the TWC, if the TWC has reasonable cause to believe that a respondent has breached a conciliation agreement, to refer the matter to the attorney general with a recommendation for the attorney general to file a civil action to enforce the agreement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.