Bill Text: TX HB217 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the services provided by a colonia self-help center.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-25 - Referred to State Affairs [HB217 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB217-Engrossed.html
| By: Márquez, Guillen, Longoria, González, | H.B. No. 217 | |
| Raymond, et al. | ||
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| ating to the services provided by a colonia self-help center. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Sections 2306.586(a), (b), (c), and (d), | ||
| Government Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) The purpose of a self-help center is to assist | ||
| individuals and families of low income and very low income to | ||
| finance, refinance, construct, improve, or maintain a safe, | ||
| suitable home and otherwise improve living conditions in the | ||
| colonias' designated service area or in another area the department | ||
| has determined is suitable. | ||
| (b) A self-help center shall set a goal to improve the | ||
| living conditions of residents in the colonias designated under | ||
| Section 2306.583(b) [ |
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| after a contract is awarded under this subchapter. | ||
| (c) A self-help center may serve individuals and families of | ||
| low income and very low income by: | ||
| (1) providing assistance in obtaining loans or grants | ||
| to build a home; | ||
| (2) teaching construction skills necessary to repair | ||
| or build a home; | ||
| (3) providing model home plans; | ||
| (4) operating a program to rent or provide tools for | ||
| home construction and improvement for the benefit of property | ||
| owners in colonias who are building or repairing a residence or | ||
| installing necessary residential infrastructure; | ||
| (5) helping to obtain, construct, access, or improve | ||
| the service and utility infrastructure designed to service | ||
| residences in a colonia, including potable water, wastewater | ||
| disposal, drainage, streets, and utilities; | ||
| (6) surveying or platting residential property that an | ||
| individual purchased without the benefit of a legal survey, plat, | ||
| or record; | ||
| (7) providing credit and debt counseling related to | ||
| home purchase and finance; | ||
| (8) applying for grants and loans to provide housing | ||
| and other needed community improvements; | ||
| (9) providing other services that the self-help | ||
| center, with the approval of the department, determines are | ||
| necessary to assist colonia residents in improving their [ |
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| living conditions, including help in: | ||
| (A) obtaining suitable alternative housing | ||
| outside of a colonia's area; and | ||
| (B) performing the following authorized public | ||
| service activities under Title 1 of the Housing and Community | ||
| Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Section 5301 et seq.): | ||
| (i) securing employment; | ||
| (ii) establishing or expanding a small | ||
| business; or | ||
| (iii) managing personal finances; | ||
| (10) providing assistance in obtaining loans or grants | ||
| to enable an individual or a family to acquire fee simple title to | ||
| property that originally was purchased under a contract for a deed, | ||
| contract for sale, or other executory contract; and | ||
| (11) providing monthly programs to educate | ||
| individuals and families on their rights and responsibilities as | ||
| property owners. | ||
| (d) A self-help center may not provide grants, financing, or | ||
| mortgage loan services to purchase, build, rehabilitate, or finance | ||
| construction or improvements to a home or otherwise improve living | ||
| conditions in a colonia if water service and suitable wastewater | ||
| disposal are not available. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
