By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 593

(Blanco, Moody)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the governance of certain housing authorities.

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

SECTION 1. Section 392.031(b), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A commissioner may not be an officer or employee of the municipality. A commissioner may be:

(1) a tenant of a public project over which the housing authority has jurisdiction; or

(2) a [person who is a] recipient of housing assistance administered through the authority's housing choice voucher program or project-based rental assistance program.

SECTION 2. Section 392.0331, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b), (b-2), (g), and (h-1) and adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b-1) and (b-2), in appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality with a municipal housing authority composed of five commissioners shall appoint at least one commissioner to the authority who is a tenant of a public housing project over which the authority has jurisdiction. Except as provided by Subsection (b-3) [(b-2)], in appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality with a municipal housing authority composed of seven or more commissioners shall appoint at least two commissioners to the authority who are tenants of a public housing project over which the authority has jurisdiction.

(b-2) This subsection applies only to a municipality that has a population over 600,000 and is located adjacent to the international border of this state. In appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality described by this subsection that has a municipal housing authority composed of five commissioners shall appoint at least one commissioner to the authority who is:

(1) a tenant of a public housing project over which the authority has jurisdiction; or

(2) a recipient of housing assistance administered through the authority's housing choice voucher program or project-based rental assistance program.

(b-3) In appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality that has a population over two million and a municipal housing authority composed of seven or more commissioners shall appoint at least two commissioners to the authority who are:

(1) tenants of a public housing project over which the authority has jurisdiction; or

(2) recipients of housing assistance administered through the authority's housing choice voucher program.

(g) A commissioner appointed under this section may not participate:

(1) in any vote or discussion concerning the termination of:

(A) the commissioner's occupancy rights in public housing;

(B) the commissioner's rights to housing assistance administered through a housing choice voucher program or a project-based rental assistance program; or

(C) the rights of any person related in the first degree by consanguinity to the commissioner with respect to the person's occupancy rights in public housing or right to receive housing assistance administered through a housing choice voucher program or a project-based rental assistance program; or

(2) in a grievance or administrative hearing in which the commissioner or a person related in the first degree by consanguinity to the commissioner is a party.

(h-1) If a commissioner appointed under this section as a recipient of housing assistance administered through the authority's housing choice voucher program or project-based rental assistance program ceases to receive that assistance, a majority of the other commissioners shall decide whether to request that a new commissioner be appointed. A majority of the commissioners may decide to allow the commissioner to serve the remaining portion of the commissioner's term.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.