By: Lucio S.B. No. 2292
(In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2009; March 31, 2009, read
first time and referred to Committee on International Relations and
Trade; April 14, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
April 14, 2009, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2292 By: Lucio
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 plan for future reconstruction efforts to
increase the effective and efficient delivery of natural disaster
housing recovery services by state agencies. This Act is not meant
to delay or otherwise interfere with ongoing reconstruction
efforts.
SECTION 2. Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter X-2 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER X-2. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
INITIATIVE
Sec. 2306.541. NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The director shall appoint a natural
disaster housing reconstruction advisory committee composed of
representatives from appropriate local, state, and federal
entities and organizations and nonprofit organizations.
(b) The advisory committee shall develop a natural disaster
housing 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) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.
Sec. 2306.542. HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION PILOT
PROGRAM. (a) Using the natural disaster housing reconstruction
plan developed under this subchapter, the director and advisory
committee shall develop, for implementation under Subsections (b)
and (c), housing reconstruction demonstration pilot programs for
three areas, each of which was affected by one of the three most
recent federally declared natural disasters. The pilot programs
must provide for the replacement of at least 20 houses in each area
to test the feasibility of implementing the plan in the large-scale
production of replacement housing for victims of federally declared
natural disasters.
(b) The department shall provide to an interested council of
government, county, or local government eligible for funding for
disaster recovery under the community development block grant
program:
(1) information regarding a pilot program developed
under Subsection (a); and
(2) assistance in implementing a pilot program
developed under Subsection (a).
(c) At the discretion of the board, the department may
implement a pilot program in any of the three most recently
federally declared disaster areas in which a pilot program has not
been implemented by a council of government, county, or local
government. The department may use any available funds to
implement the pilot program.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2010, the
executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs shall submit the natural disaster housing reconstruction
plan developed under Subsection (b), Section 2306.541, Government
Code, as added by this Act, to the governing board of the Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2010, the executive director of
the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall provide
housing reconstruction demonstration pilot program information to
an interested council of government, county, or local government
eligible for funding for disaster recovery under the community
development block grant program.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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