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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the allocation of low income housing tax credits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2306.6710(b), Government Code, is |
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amended by adding section 2306.6710(b)(4) and (4-a) to read as |
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follows: |
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(4) the Department shall develop a scoring incentive for |
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competitively awarded low income housing tax credits that includes, |
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on an equal basis, points for either: |
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(A) developments in primary attendance zones for |
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elementary schools that have achieved combined ratings of B or |
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better under the system administered by the Texas Education Agency; |
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or |
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(B) developments in market areas from which the |
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development is projected to attract 51 percent or more of its |
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tenants where those market areas encompass significant features |
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that will: |
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(i) promote household success; |
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(ii) promote neighborhood pride and |
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cohesiveness; and |
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(iii) promote an affordable and healthy |
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lifestyle for residents. |
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(4-a) the features that will promote: |
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(A) household success are: |
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(i) established neighborhoods from which the |
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proposed development is likely to draw a significant number of its |
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tenants; |
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(ii) neighborhoods that include places of |
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worship, established civic organizations, established mentoring |
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programs, or established parent teacher organizations whose |
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established membership includes a significant proportion of person |
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or households who would be income eligible for the proposed |
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affordable housing; and |
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(iii) neighborhoods that encompass mass transit |
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stops that would enable residents of the proposed development to |
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commute to areas of work opportunity; |
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(B) neighborhood pride and cohesiveness include: |
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(i) Designation of the neighborhood as an |
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historical neighborhood; |
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(ii) An active partnership between local law |
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enforcement and neighborhood organizations to cooperate in |
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addressing crime where that partnership has experienced |
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demonstrable success in reducing crime and building positive |
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relations between the community and law enforcement as acknowledged |
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by the organization; and |
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(iii) Activity during the prior year to |
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remediate historic infrastructure issues such as inadequate street |
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lighting; lack of sidewalks; installation of flood control |
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measures; construction of new public facilities such as police |
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stations, fire stations, indoor recreation facilities, transit |
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stops for light rail; |
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(C) an affordable and healthy lifestyle for residents |
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include: |
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(i) full service grocery stores; |
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(ii) pharmacies; |
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(iii) Public parks; |
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(iv) Hospitals; and |
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(v) Health clinics. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for low income housing tax credits that is |
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submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
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during an application cycle that is based on the 2018 qualified |
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allocation plan or a subsequent plan adopted by the governing board |
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of the department under Section 2306.67022, Government Code. An |
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application that is submitted during an application cycle that is |
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based on an earlier qualified allocation plan is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date the application cycle began, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |