By: Turner of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 2827
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2009;
May 6, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations; May 18, 2009, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 18, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the emergency housing and disaster
recovery division within the Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2306.0521, Government Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall
establish and maintain an emergency housing and disaster recovery
division. The division shall:
(1) develop a program to provide for the rapid
deployment of temporary housing for homeowners affected by natural
disasters;
(2) develop a program to quickly restore or replace
permanent housing for homeowners affected by natural disasters;
(3) develop a program to quickly provide additional
rental housing to areas affected by natural disasters;
(4) provide funding to nonprofit agencies that provide
to homeowners affected by natural disasters counseling on
refinancing options and financial assistance available through
state and federal programs; and
(5) collaborate with the division of emergency
management established under Chapter 418 and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to secure reimbursement for housing needs in
areas affected by natural disasters.
SECTION 2. Section 2306.056, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
(c) If federal or state money, other than money appropriated
to the department under a current services budget for the state
fiscal biennium prepared for the state budgetary process is
allocated to the department to address the results of a natural
disaster, the board may appoint a committee composed of residents
of the affected area. The committee shall serve until 90 percent of
the money allocated to the department to address the results of the
natural disaster has been spent. The committee shall advise the
department and the emergency housing and disaster recovery division
with regards to resource allocation.
(d) The department shall develop and implement policies
that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear
periodically before a committee created under Subsection (c) and to
speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the emergency housing
and disaster recovery division.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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