81R6837 EAH-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 2292
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a natural disaster housing
reconstruction initiative.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to encourage the
development of a model reconstruction plan for future
reconstruction efforts to increase the effective and efficient
delivery of natural disaster recovery services by state agencies.
This Act is not meant to affect ongoing reconstruction efforts.
SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE
Sec. 418.301. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The natural disaster housing
reconstruction advisory committee is composed of:
(1) the executive director of the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs;
(2) the executive director of the Office of Rural
Community Affairs;
(3) the director of the division; and
(4) one representative of each of the following
appointed by the natural disaster housing reconstruction
coordinator:
(A) the College of Engineering of Texas Tech
University;
(B) the community and regional planning program
of The University of Texas at Austin;
(C) the School of Architecture of Rice
University;
(D) the School of Social Work of The University
of Texas at Austin;
(E) the Texas Society of Architects;
(F) the Austin Community Design and Development
Center;
(G) the Texas Low Income Housing Information
Service;
(H) the Texas Association of Builders;
(I) the Texas Manufactured Housing Association;
(J) Gulf Coast Interfaith;
(K) the United States Department of Homeland
Security;
(L) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(M) the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development;
(N) the Community Development Corporation of
Brownsville;
(O) community development corporations from two
other communities affected by hurricanes; and
(P) Habitat for Humanity.
(b) The advisory committee shall develop a natural disaster
reconstruction plan. In developing this plan, the advisory
committee shall:
(1) evaluate existing systems of providing temporary
housing to victims of natural disasters and develop alternative
systems to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness;
(2) evaluate existing models for providing permanent
replacement housing to victims of natural disasters;
(3) design alternatives to existing models to improve
the sustainability, affordability, desirability, and quality of
housing rebuilt in the event of future natural disasters;
(4) evaluate economic circumstances of elderly,
disabled, and low-income victims of natural disasters and develop
models for providing affordable replacement housing;
(5) recommend programs for the rapid and efficient
large-scale production of temporary and permanent replacement
housing following a natural disaster; and
(6) encourage the participation, coordination, and
involvement of appropriate federal organizations.
(c) The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
shall provide funding for the advisory committee through the
department's research funds.
(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.
Sec. 418.302. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
COORDINATOR. (a) The governor shall appoint an employee of the
office of the governor or the administrative head of a state agency
as the natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator. The
coordinator serves at the pleasure of the governor.
(b) The coordinator shall:
(1) call meetings of the advisory committee as
necessary;
(2) assist the advisory committee in developing and
implementing the natural disaster reconstruction plan;
(3) submit the natural disaster reconstruction plan to
the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and members of the legislature;
(4) work with appropriate state agencies to address
any housing-related issues, including liens, identified by the
advisory committee that may assist state agencies in efforts to
reconstruct homes following disasters; and
(5) encourage the participation, coordination, and
involvement of appropriate federal organizations.
(c) The agency that employs the coordinator shall provide
funding for the coordinator position using money from any source
that may be used to respond to a natural disaster.
Sec. 418.303. HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM. (a) Using the natural disaster reconstruction plan
developed under this subchapter, the coordinator and advisory
committee shall develop and implement a housing reconstruction
demonstration program in three areas previously affected by a
natural disaster. The program must provide for the replacement of
at least 20 houses in each area to test the feasibility of
implementing the plan in the production of replacement housing for
victims of natural disasters.
(b) The program shall be implemented using available funds
from the housing trust fund or any other federal or state funds
available.
Sec. 418.304. ASSISTANCE AND STAFFING. The division, with
the assistance of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs and the Office of Rural Community Affairs, shall assist the
coordinator and advisory committee as necessary, including by
providing appropriate staff.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than October 1, 2009, the governor
shall appoint the natural disaster housing reconstruction
coordinator under Section 418.302, Government Code, as added by
this Act.
(b) The natural disaster housing reconstruction coordinator
shall, not later than 14 days after appointment, call an initial
meeting of the advisory committee under Section 418.301, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
(c) Not later than 60 days after appointment of the
coordinator, the advisory committee shall develop a preliminary
natural disaster reconstruction plan under Section 418.301(b),
Government Code, as added by this Act.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2009, the advisory committee
shall submit the final natural disaster reconstruction plan.
(e) Not later than February 1, 2010, the advisory committee
shall implement the housing reconstruction demonstration program
established under Section 418.303, Government Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.