88R7629 JAM-D
 
  By: Walle H.B. No. 1917
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment and implementation by the Texas
  Department of Housing and Community Affairs of the Texas Tenant
  Readiness and Landlord Incentive Pilot Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2306.254 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2306.254.  TEXAS TENANT READINESS AND LANDLORD
  INCENTIVE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Program" means the Texas Tenant Readiness and
  Landlord Incentive Pilot Program.
               (2)  "Program participant" means an individual or
  family who receives assistance under the program.
         (b)  The department shall establish and implement the Texas
  Tenant Readiness and Landlord Incentive Pilot Program to enable the
  department to contract with and provide funding to local
  governmental entities, including county and municipal housing
  authorities, and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of
  assisting, and providing incentives to landlords with respect to,
  individuals and families who:
               (1)  are currently experiencing homelessness,
  including newly homeless individuals and families for whom
  providing assistance will prevent further homelessness and housing
  instability;
               (2)  are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic
  violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human
  trafficking; or
               (3)  were recently homeless or otherwise have a high
  risk of housing instability, including persons experiencing
  chronic homelessness and persons with disabilities.
         (c)  To identify local governmental entities to administer
  the program, the department shall:
               (1)  issue a notice of funding availability; and
               (2)  establish an application and selection process as
  described by Subsection (d).
         (d)  The application process established under Subsection
  (c)(2) must require a local governmental entity to submit to the
  department a housing search assistance plan that demonstrates the
  entity's ability to help individuals and families obtain housing in
  the area served by the entity. In selecting local governmental
  entities to administer the program, the department shall consider
  an applicant's:
               (1)  ability to serve:
                     (A)  rural areas; and
                     (B)  a variety of populations as differentiated by
  age, gender, race, or ethnicity; and
               (2)  existing partnerships with other relevant local
  entities, including landlords, direct service providers, and
  housing authorities.
         (e)  A local governmental entity selected by the department
  to administer the program may provide financial and other forms of
  assistance, not to exceed a total value of $3,500 per household, to
  cover the qualified costs of individuals and families described by
  Subsection (b) who are recipients of assistance provided through
  the housing choice voucher program authorized under Section 8,
  United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section 1437f), or
  another federal, state, or local housing voucher program.
         (f)  Qualified costs under Subsection (e):
               (1)  must include costs associated with a program
  participant's initial housing search, including:
                     (A)  the identification and visitation of
  residential units that meet the participant's needs, including any
  disability-related needs; and
                     (B)  assistance with the completion of rental
  applications and forms;
               (2)  may include other tenant-related costs associated
  with obtaining housing, including:
                     (A)  the payment of a holding fee required by a
  landlord after a tenant's application has been accepted but before
  the tenant's lease is signed;
                     (B)  the provision of security deposit
  assistance, provided that the deposit does not exceed the lesser
  of:
                           (i)  two months' rent;
                           (ii)  the maximum security deposit allowed
  under applicable state or local law; or
                           (iii)  the actual security deposit required
  by the landlord;
                     (C)  assistance in obtaining utility services,
  including any required deposit or the payment of arrears owed to a
  utility service provider;
                     (D)  the payment of initial moving expenses;
                     (E)  the purchase of essential household items;
                     (F)  renter's insurance; and
                     (G)  the creation of a customized plan to address
  or mitigate barriers a program participant may encounter in
  attempting to obtain housing; and
               (3)  may include landlord-related incentives,
  including:
                     (A)  payments to a landlord who provides housing
  under the program; and
                     (B)  the payment of a landlord's costs associated
  with any inspection or pre-inspection necessary to allow a
  residential unit to be used in the program.
         (g)  Not later than January 1, 2028, the department shall
  submit to the legislature a report documenting the outcomes of the
  pilot program. The report must include:
               (1)  demographic information relating to program
  participants, including identifiable demographic trends;
               (2)  a summary of the use of the financial assistance
  provided under the program;
               (3)  an analysis of housing outcomes for program
  participants, including:
                     (A)  the period for which a program participant
  remained in the residential unit that was the focus of the initial
  assistance provided under the program; and
                     (B)  any other known housing outcomes associated
  with program participants;
               (4)  a summary of the experiences of the local
  governmental entities that administered the program, and those
  entities' suggested improvements to the program; and
               (5)  an analysis of the program's success in serving
  individuals and families living in rural areas of the state.
         (h)  The department shall adopt rules necessary to
  administer the pilot program.  Rules adopted under this section
  must establish eligibility requirements for participation in the
  program.
         (i)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.