81R11404 YDB-D
By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 3168
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a natural disaster reconstruction
demonstration initiative.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter I to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I. NATURAL DISASTER RECONSTRUCTION
DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE
Sec. 418.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing
and Community Affairs.
(2) "Initiative" means the natural disaster
reconstruction demonstration initiative established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 418.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE. The division and
the department shall establish the natural disaster reconstruction
demonstration initiative.
Sec. 418.203. INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES. (a) In establishing
the initiative, the division and department shall jointly develop a
plan for the best methods of securing temporary housing and
reconstructing permanent housing for persons displaced by a natural
disaster.
(b) In developing the plan, the division and department
shall examine:
(1) ways to provide the maximum amount of housing
assistance on an expedited basis through the use of federal and
state sources of assistance;
(2) sources of federal, state, and private funding to
provide temporary and permanent housing assistance;
(3) the availability of federal and state surplus
property for temporary and permanent housing;
(4) the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing
properties or the construction of new properties to replace housing
lost in a natural disaster; and
(5) the establishment of an authority responsible for
administering housing programs for persons affected by a natural
disaster.
(c) In developing the initiative and plan, the division and
the department shall solicit input from persons impacted from past
natural disasters and from other interested persons.
Sec. 418.204. PILOT PROJECT. (a) The division and the
department shall conduct a pilot project to secure housing for
persons who, as of September 1, 2009, remain displaced by Hurricane
Rita or Hurricane Ike.
(b) This section expires January 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.