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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the governance of public housing authorities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 392.031, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A commissioner of the authority must reside in: |
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(1) the area over which the authority has |
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jurisdiction; or |
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(2) an area outside the jurisdiction of the authority, |
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as determined by the municipality. |
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SECTION 2. Section 392.032(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A commissioner of the authority must reside in the area |
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over which the authority has jurisdiction [may not be an officer or
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employee of the county]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 392.033, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) A commissioner of the authority who is appointed under |
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Subsection (a), (b), or (d) must reside in the county the |
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commissioner is appointed to represent. An additional commissioner |
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who is appointed under Subsection (c) may reside in either county in |
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the authority. |
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SECTION 4. Section 392.0331, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The commissioners court of a county that has a county |
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housing authority in which the total number of households served by |
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the authority is 150 or fewer is not required to appoint a tenant to |
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the position of commissioner as otherwise required by Subsection |
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(c) if the commissioners court has provided timely notice of a |
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vacancy in the position to all eligible tenants and is unable to |
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fill the position with an eligible tenant before the 60th day after |
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the date the position becomes vacant. |
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SECTION 5. Section 392.038, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 392.038. OTHER OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF A MUNICIPAL |
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OR COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY. (a) A municipal or county housing |
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authority may: |
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(1) employ a secretary, who shall serve as executive |
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director;[,] and |
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(2) [may] employ technical experts and other officers |
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and[,] agents[, and employees, permanent or temporary,] the |
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authority considers necessary. |
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(b) The executive director [authority] shall: |
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(1) hire employees, permanent or temporary; and |
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(2) determine the qualifications, duties, and |
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compensation of those employees [the persons employed]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 392.0331(a), Local Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 7. (a) The term of a housing authority commissioner |
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who is serving immediately before the effective date of this Act and |
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who becomes ineligible to hold that position because of the changes |
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in law made by this Act expires on the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act, the appropriate appointing entity shall fill any vacancy in |
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the position of housing authority commissioner that occurs as |
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described by Subsection (a) of this section. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |