88R21239 AMF-D
 
  By: Lopez of Bexar, et al. H.B. No. 5255
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the collection and publication of affordable housing
  information by certain municipalities and the Texas Department of
  Housing and Community Affairs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 371.001(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing body of a municipality with a population
  of 900,000 or less may appropriate from its general fund an amount
  not to exceed one percent of the general fund budget for that year
  for the purpose of:
               (1)  advertising the municipality and promoting its
  growth and development; and
               (2)  promoting awareness of affordable housing options
  in the municipality, including by promoting the database described
  by Section 373C.052.
         SECTION 2.  Section 371.021(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing body of a general-law municipality may
  appropriate from its general fund an amount not to exceed five cents
  per $100 assessed valuation for the purpose of: 
               (1)  advertising the municipality and promoting its
  growth and development; and
               (2)  promoting awareness of affordable housing options
  in the municipality, including by promoting the database described
  by Section 373C.052.
         SECTION 3.  Subtitle A, Title 12, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 373C to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 373C.  COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ON
  AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABILITY
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 373C.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Affordable housing unit" means:
                     (A)  an income-restricted or income-based housing
  unit, including: 
                           (i)  a housing unit that may be obtained with
  a voucher provided through the housing choice voucher program under
  Section 8, United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section
  1437f);
                           (ii)  a public housing unit;
                           (iii)  a permanent supportive housing unit
  provided through a program operated by the Health and Human
  Services Commission; 
                           (iv)  a unit that is part of a
  service-enriched housing project described by Subchapter NN,
  Chapter 2306, Government Code; and
                           (v)  a unit provided through an affordable
  housing initiative operated by a municipality; and
                     (B)  a rental housing unit not described by
  Paragraph (A) for which rent is not more than 30 percent of the
  lowest household income quartile in a municipality.
               (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing
  and Community Affairs.
         Sec. 373C.002.  APPLICABILITY. (a)  This chapter applies to
  a municipality qualified to receive federal grants under the
  community development block grant entitlement program authorized
  under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974
  (42 U.S.C. Section 5301 et seq.).
         (b)  A municipality not described by Subsection (a) may
  participate in the collection and publication of affordable housing
  information described by Subchapter B.  A municipality that elects
  to participate is subject to the requirements of this chapter.
  SUBCHAPTER B.  COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION
         Sec. 373C.051.  ANNUAL MUNICIPAL SURVEY. (a)  A
  municipality shall conduct an annual survey of all affordable
  housing units located in the municipality.  The survey must collect
  the following information for each unit, as applicable: 
               (1)  the unit type; 
               (2)  the monthly rent; 
               (3)  the estimated monthly cost of basic utilities not
  included in the rent amount; 
               (4)  any eligibility requirement, including any
  average median income restriction; 
               (5)  the length of any waiting list; 
               (6)  each social service provided to a tenant,
  including a supportive service; 
               (7)  the distance to nearby essential services,
  including: 
                     (A)  public transit stops; 
                     (B)  public elementary and secondary schools; 
                     (C)  community health centers; 
                     (D)  emergency medical facilities; 
                     (E)  public safety facilities, including fire
  departments or police stations; 
                     (F)  community centers; and 
                     (G)  food retailers providing grocery items and
  fresh produce; 
               (8)  the distance to public community spaces, including
  parks, sports facilities, and playgrounds; and
               (9)  a telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail
  address for a prospective tenant to inquire about renting the unit. 
         (b)  A municipality may collect and use the information
  required to be collected by Subsection (a) from any available
  source, including information collected for a survey conducted by
  the municipality in a previous year, provided that the municipality
  verifies the information is current and accurate. 
         (c)  A municipality shall provide the information collected
  under this section to any state agency that requests the
  information. 
         Sec. 373C.052.  DATABASE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INFORMATION.
  (a) A municipality shall publish the information collected under
  Section 373C.051 in a searchable database on a publicly accessible
  Internet website and mobile application. The municipality must
  ensure that the database enables a person to:
               (1)  search for an affordable housing unit using the
  characteristics described by Section 373C.051(a);
               (2)  update the database in real time if the person is
  authorized by the municipality to do so; and
               (3)  view the complete survey information collected
  under that section. 
         (b)  A municipality shall update the municipality's database
  described by Subsection (a) at least annually. 
         Sec. 373C.053.  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
  AFFAIRS POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)  The department shall adopt rules
  necessary to implement and administer this subchapter, including
  rules on the collection, compilation, analysis, and publication of
  information on the availability and accessibility of affordable
  housing in this state. 
         (b)  The department shall publish reports on the
  availability and accessibility of affordable housing in this state
  using information collected by municipalities under this
  subchapter and other information available to the department. 
         (c)  The department may cooperate with any governmental or
  private entity to carry out the department's duties under this
  subchapter. 
         (d)  The department may use gifts, grants, donations, or
  money appropriated to the department to carry out the department's
  duties under this subchapter. 
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.