81R11955 SLB-D By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 3358 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to allowing municipal or county housing authorities in certain counties to create housing for veterans. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 392, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 392.067 to read as follows: Sec. 392.067. VETERANS HOUSING IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or in the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code. (b) A county or municipal housing authority in a county with a population of more than one million may borrow money, accept grants, and exercise its powers to provide safe and sanitary housing for veterans who are persons of low income. (c) As the authority considers necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter, an authority may enter into a lease or purchase agreement or accept a conveyance regarding real property as part of a housing project that will benefit veterans who are persons of low income. The agreement or conveyance may include any restrictive covenants that the authority considers appropriate regarding the property. As the authority considers necessary and on the stipulation of the parties, the covenants run with the property. (d) A veteran who is a person of low income and who is in need of safe and sanitary housing may file an application with a county or municipal housing authority to which this section applies requesting that the authority provide safe and sanitary housing for the veteran. The housing authority shall consider the application in connection with the development of projects or programs to provide housing for a veteran described by this section. (e) A county or municipal housing authority to which this section applies is not subject to the limitations in Section 392.014, 392.015, or 392.017 with respect to a housing project that benefits veterans as authorized by this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.