Bill Text: TX SB32 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the services provided by a colonia self-help center.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-30 - Left pending in committee [SB32 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB32-Introduced.html
84R1353 JAM-D | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 32 |
|
||
|
||
relating 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) [ |
||
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 [ |
||
living conditions, including help in: | ||
(A) securing employment; | ||
(B) establishing or expanding small businesses; | ||
(C) managing personal finances; or | ||
(D) obtaining suitable alternative housing | ||
outside of a colonia's area; | ||
(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. |