| 1 | 1 | | 86R8405 JAM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Neave H.B. No. 1583 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of a government shutdown housing relief |
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| 8 | 8 | | loan program; authorizing fees. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 2306.2591 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 2306.2591. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HOUSING RELIEF LOAN |
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| 13 | 13 | | PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish and administer a |
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| 14 | 14 | | program to provide loans to federal employees who are: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) considered nonessential or otherwise furloughed |
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| 16 | 16 | | during a federal government shutdown; or |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) working without pay during a federal government |
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| 18 | 18 | | shutdown as a result of being considered essential or otherwise |
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| 19 | 19 | | excepted from a furlough. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A loan made under this section: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) may be made only for rent, mortgage, or utility |
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| 22 | 22 | | payments; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) must be repaid not later than the 60th day after |
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| 24 | 24 | | the date the federal government processes back pay for the loan |
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| 25 | 25 | | recipient following the end of a federal government shutdown; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (3) may not bear interest. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) The department shall adopt rules necessary to |
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| 28 | 28 | | administer the program. Rules adopted under this section: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) must include requirements for documentation |
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| 30 | 30 | | necessary for a loan applicant to establish eligibility for |
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| 31 | 31 | | participation in the program, including proof of employment and |
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| 32 | 32 | | covered expenses; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2) may impose fees for the failure to repay a loan |
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| 34 | 34 | | within the period required by Subsection (b)(2). |
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| 35 | 35 | | (d) The department may use any available revenue, including |
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| 36 | 36 | | any available money from the housing trust fund, to provide loans |
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| 37 | 37 | | under this section. The department shall solicit and accept gifts |
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| 38 | 38 | | and grants for the purposes of this section. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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