BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 662

By: Collier

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that state funds used to prevent and eliminate homelessness in the larger cities in Texas are not actually addressing all of the causes of homelessness. H.B. 662 seeks to address these concerns by clarifying that displacement due to economic development activities be addressed in larger cities' local programs to prevent and eliminate homelessness.

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. 662 amends the Government Code to clarify that the local programs for preventing and eliminating homelessness provided through the homeless housing and services program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) in a municipality with a population of 285,500 or more may include programs to prevent homelessness resulting from displacement due to economic development activities. The bill provides for each municipality to receive an allocation of any available funding under the rules to be adopted by the TDHCA governing the administration of the homeless housing and services program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.