Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1744 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1744
	2	+	(In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2021; March 26, 2021, read
	3	+	first time and referred to Committee on Local Government;
	4	+	April 27, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
	5	+	Nays 0; April 27, 2021, sent to printer.)
	6	+	Click here to see the committee vote
2	7
3	8
4	9		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	10		AN ACT
6	11		relating to the services provided by a colonia self-help center.
7	12		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	13		SECTION 1. Sections 2306.586(a), (b), (c), and (d),
9	14		Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
10	15		(a) The purpose of a self-help center is to assist
11	16		individuals and families of low income and very low income to
12	17		finance, refinance, construct, improve, or maintain a safe,
13	18		suitable home and otherwise improve living conditions in the
14	19		colonias' designated service area or in another area the department
15	20		has determined is suitable.
16	21		(b) A self-help center shall set a goal to improve the
17	22		living conditions of residents in the colonias designated under
18	23		Section 2306.583(b) [2306.583(a)(2)] within a two-year period
19	24		after a contract is awarded under this subchapter.
20	25		(c) A self-help center may serve individuals and families of
21	26		low income and very low income by:
22	27		(1) providing assistance in obtaining loans or grants
23	28		to build a home;
24	29		(2) teaching construction skills necessary to repair
25	30		or build a home;
26	31		(3) providing model home plans;
27	32		(4) operating a program to rent or provide tools for
28	33		home construction and improvement for the benefit of property
29	34		owners in colonias who are building or repairing a residence or
30	35		installing necessary residential infrastructure;
31	36		(5) helping to obtain, construct, access, or improve
32	37		the service and utility infrastructure designed to service
33	38		residences in a colonia, including potable water, wastewater
34	39		disposal, drainage, streets, and utilities;
35	40		(6) surveying or platting residential property that an
36	41		individual purchased without the benefit of a legal survey, plat,
37	42		or record;
38	43		(7) providing credit and debt counseling related to
39	44		home purchase and finance;
40	45		(8) applying for grants and loans to provide housing
41	46		and other needed community improvements;
42	47		(9) providing other services that the self-help
43	48		center, with the approval of the department, determines are
44	49		necessary to assist colonia residents in improving their [physical]
45	50		living conditions, including help in:
46	51		(A) obtaining suitable alternative housing
47	52		outside of a colonia's area; and
48	53		(B) performing the following authorized public
49	54		service activities under Title 1 of the Housing and Community
50	55		Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Section 5301 et seq.):
51	56		(i) securing employment;
52	57		(ii) establishing or expanding a small
53	58		business; or
54	59		(iii) managing personal finances;
55	60		(10) providing assistance in obtaining loans or grants
56	61		to enable an individual or a family to acquire fee simple title to
57	62		property that originally was purchased under a contract for a deed,
58	63		contract for sale, or other executory contract; and
59	64		(11) providing monthly programs to educate
60	65		individuals and families on their rights and responsibilities as
61	66		property owners.
62	67		(d) A self-help center may not provide grants, financing, or
63	68		mortgage loan services to purchase, build, rehabilitate, or finance
64	69		construction or improvements to a home or otherwise improve living
65	70		conditions in a colonia if water service and suitable wastewater
66	71		disposal are not available.
67	72		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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