BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1277 By: Campos Urban Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to a recent report, more than 25,000 individuals are affected by homelessness in Texas. There have been calls to address interim housing and other services for the purpose of homelessness prevention and mitigation. H.B. 1277 seeks to address this issue by funding a transitional housing pilot program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in SECTION 1 of this bill. ANALYSIS H.B. 1277 amends the Government Code to fund the transitional housing pilot program of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) with money contributed to the Ending Homelessness fund. The bill authorizes the TDHCA to do the following: operate the program in coordination with one or more counties or municipalities; provide a grant from the fund to a county or municipality with which the TDHCA coordinates to operate the program; and adopt rules as necessary to implement the program. H.B. 1277 amends the Transportation Code to require the TDHCA to give priority in issuing grants from the fund to counties and municipalities that coordinate with the TDHCA in the program's operation. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2021.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1277
By: Campos
Urban Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1277
By: Campos
Urban Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to a recent report, more than 25,000 individuals are affected by homelessness in Texas. There have been calls to address interim housing and other services for the purpose of homelessness prevention and mitigation. H.B. 1277 seeks to address this issue by funding a transitional housing pilot program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1277 amends the Government Code to fund the transitional housing pilot program of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) with money contributed to the Ending Homelessness fund. The bill authorizes the TDHCA to do the following: operate the program in coordination with one or more counties or municipalities; provide a grant from the fund to a county or municipality with which the TDHCA coordinates to operate the program; and adopt rules as necessary to implement the program. H.B. 1277 amends the Transportation Code to require the TDHCA to give priority in issuing grants from the fund to counties and municipalities that coordinate with the TDHCA in the program's operation.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2021.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
According to a recent report, more than 25,000 individuals are affected by homelessness in Texas. There have been calls to address interim housing and other services for the purpose of homelessness prevention and mitigation. H.B. 1277 seeks to address this issue by funding a transitional housing pilot program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1277 amends the Government Code to fund the transitional housing pilot program of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) with money contributed to the Ending Homelessness fund. The bill authorizes the TDHCA to do the following:
operate the program in coordination with one or more counties or municipalities;
provide a grant from the fund to a county or municipality with which the TDHCA coordinates to operate the program; and
adopt rules as necessary to implement the program.
H.B. 1277 amends the Transportation Code to require the TDHCA to give priority in issuing grants from the fund to counties and municipalities that coordinate with the TDHCA in the program's operation.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2021.