HBA-JEK H.B. 2715 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2715
By: Carter
Urban Affairs
3/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is charged
with ensuring the availability of affordable housing, providing community
assistance, and regulating the manufactured housing industry.  The Sunset
Advisory Commission recently recommended that TDHCA develop a system that
encourages local housing providers to use innovative products and tools
that best meet the housing needs in their region.  The Urban Affairs
Committee Interim Report recommended the creation of new regional
development coordinator positions to serve the state's 11 regions.  House
Bill 2715 requires the director of TDHCA to appoint five regional
development coordinators and a database information specialist. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2715 amends the Government Code to require the executive
director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
to appoint five regional development coordinators.  The bill provides that
the primary responsibilities of a regional development coordinator are
assisting local communities in determining how to address affordable
housing and community development needs, establishing regional planning and
resource-sharing partnerships, and facilitating the leveraging of available
local, state, and federal funds.  The bill requires a regional development
coordinator to gather data about regional housing and community development
needs, identify statewide and national partners for meeting regional
housing and community development needs, and provide an information
clearinghouse for the region that facilitates regional planning and
resource sharing. 

H.B. 2715 requires the director of TDHCA to appoint a database information
specialist who will provide for the effective and efficient dissemination
of information related to housing and community development in a form that
is accessible, widely available, and easily used by the public. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.