2021S0066-1 02/03/21
 
  By: Schwertner, BettencourtBuckingham S.B. No. 646
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring county approval of a proposed purchase or
  conversion by a municipality of a property to house homeless
  individuals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 211.003(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 244, the
  [The] governing body of a municipality may regulate:
               (1)  the height, number of stories, and size of
  buildings and other structures;
               (2)  the percentage of a lot that may be occupied;
               (3)  the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces;
               (4)  population density;
               (5)  the location and use of buildings, other
  structures, and land for business, industrial, residential, or
  other purposes; and
               (6)  the pumping, extraction, and use of groundwater by
  persons other than retail public utilities, as defined by Section
  13.002, Water Code, for the purpose of preventing the use or contact
  with groundwater that presents an actual or potential threat to
  human health.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 244, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C.  MUNICIPAL PURCHASE OR USE CONVERSION OF PROPERTY TO
  HOUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
         Sec. 244.041.  COUNTY APPROVAL. (a)  A municipality may not
  purchase a property to house homeless individuals unless the
  commissioners court of the county in which the property is located
  approves a plan as described by Section 244.042(b).
         (b)  A municipality may not convert the use of a property
  owned by the municipality to enable the property to house homeless
  individuals unless the commissioners court of the county in which
  the property is located approves a plan as described by Section
  244.042(b).
         Sec. 244.042.  PLAN REQUIREMENTS. (a)  In this section,
  "proposed new residents" means homeless individuals the
  municipality intends to house at the purchased or converted
  property.
         (b)  A plan required by Section 244.041 shall describe:
               (1)  the availability of local health care for proposed
  new residents, including access to Medicaid services and mental
  health services;
               (2)  the availability of indigent services for proposed
  new residents;
               (3)  the availability of reasonably affordable public
  transportation for proposed new residents;
               (4)  local law enforcement resources in the area of the
  property; and
               (5)  what steps the municipality has taken to
  coordinate with the local mental health authority to provide for
  any proposed new residents.
         (c)  A municipality shall respond to any reasonable requests
  for additional information made by the commissioners court
  regarding the proposed property purchase or use conversion.
         Sec. 244.043.  NOTICE. A municipality that intends to
  purchase or convert a property to house homeless individuals shall:
               (1)  post notice of the proposed use of the property at
  the property not later than the 61st day before the proposed date of
  purchase or conversion; and
               (2)  publish notice of the proposed purchase or
  conversion of the property for 10 consecutive days in a newspaper of
  general circulation in the county in which the property is located,
  with the first day being not later than the 61st day before the
  proposed date of purchase or conversion.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a municipal purchase or use conversion described by Subchapter C,
  Chapter 244, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, that is
  not final on the effective date of this Act.  A municipal purchase
  or use conversion that was final before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect when the municipal purchase or
  use conversion was completed, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.