BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1943 81R25113 ACP-F By: West Intergovernmental Relations 4/16/2009 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, the only forum for taking up and affirmatively furthering fair housing issues is in the courts. Texas needs its own mechanism for addressing fair housing issues and concerns in a proactive way. This bill gives civil rights, fair housing, and low income advocates and housing industry stakeholders a forum for policy discussion about the best ways to accomplish the goals of fair housing. C.S.S.B. 1943 amends current law relating to state and municipal actions to ensure compliance with fair housing requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 301, Property Code, by adding Subchapter J, as follows: SUBCHAPTER J. STATE AND MUNICIPAL ACTIONS FOR FAIR HOUSING Sec. 301.201. ADMINISTRATION OF STATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Requires each state agency to administer programs and activities relating to housing and urban development in a manner that affirmatively furthers the goals of fair housing under this chapter. Sec. 301.202. ADMINISTRATION OF MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Requires each municipality to administer municipal programs and activities relating to housing and urban development in a manner that affirmatively furthers the goals of fair housing under this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009. BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1943 81R25113 ACP-F By: West Intergovernmental Relations 4/16/2009 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, the only forum for taking up and affirmatively furthering fair housing issues is in the courts. Texas needs its own mechanism for addressing fair housing issues and concerns in a proactive way. This bill gives civil rights, fair housing, and low income advocates and housing industry stakeholders a forum for policy discussion about the best ways to accomplish the goals of fair housing. C.S.S.B. 1943 amends current law relating to state and municipal actions to ensure compliance with fair housing requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 301, Property Code, by adding Subchapter J, as follows: SUBCHAPTER J. STATE AND MUNICIPAL ACTIONS FOR FAIR HOUSING Sec. 301.201. ADMINISTRATION OF STATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Requires each state agency to administer programs and activities relating to housing and urban development in a manner that affirmatively furthers the goals of fair housing under this chapter. Sec. 301.202. ADMINISTRATION OF MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Requires each municipality to administer municipal programs and activities relating to housing and urban development in a manner that affirmatively furthers the goals of fair housing under this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.