BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4394

By: Johnson, Eric

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that current state funds used to assist with homelessness prevention are not addressing all of the causes of homelessness. H.B. 4394 seeks to address these concerns by revising provisions relating to a homeless housing and services program to ensure that Texans who are in danger of becoming homeless due to economic development activities are eligible for state funds intended to assist with homelessness prevention. 

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4394 amends the Government Code to specify that the local programs to prevent and eliminate homelessness provided through a homeless housing and services program that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) may administer in a municipality with a population of 285,500 or more include the prevention of homelessness that results from displacement due to economic development activities. The bill replaces an authorization for the TDHCA to adopt a rule to govern the administration of the program that provides for the allocation of any available funding with an authorization for a rule that provides that each such municipality receives an allocation of any available funding.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.