88R21239 AMF-D     By: Lopez of Bexar, et al. H.B. No. 5255     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5255:     By:  Lozano C.S.H.B. No. 5255       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the collection and publication of affordable housing   information by certain municipalities and the Texas Department of   Housing and Community Affairs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 371.001(a), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The governing body of a municipality with a population   of 900,000 or less may appropriate from its general fund an amount   not to exceed one percent of the general fund budget for that year   for the purpose of:                (1)  advertising the municipality and promoting its   growth and development; and                (2)  promoting awareness of affordable housing options   in the municipality, including by promoting the database described   by Section 373C.052.          SECTION 2.  Section 371.021(a), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The governing body of a general-law municipality may   appropriate from its general fund an amount not to exceed five cents   per $100 assessed valuation for the purpose of:                 (1)  advertising the municipality and promoting its   growth and development; and                (2)  promoting awareness of affordable housing options   in the municipality, including by promoting the database described   by Section 373C.052.          SECTION 3.  Subtitle A, Title 12, Local Government Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 373C to read as follows:   CHAPTER 373C.  COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ON   AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABILITY   SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 373C.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Affordable housing unit" means:                      (A)  an income-restricted or income-based housing   unit, including:                             (i)  a housing unit that may be obtained with   a voucher provided through the housing choice voucher program under   Section 8, United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section   1437f);                            (ii)  a public housing unit;                            (iii)  a permanent supportive housing unit   provided through a program operated by the Health and Human   Services Commission;                             (iv)  a unit that is part of a   service-enriched housing project described by Subchapter NN,   Chapter 2306, Government Code; and                            (v)  a unit provided through an affordable   housing initiative operated by a municipality; and                      (B)  a rental housing unit not described by   Paragraph (A) for which rent is not more than 30 percent of the   lowest household income quartile in a municipality.                (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing   and Community Affairs.          Sec. 373C.002.  APPLICABILITY. (a)  This chapter applies to   a municipality qualified to receive federal grants under the   community development block grant entitlement program authorized   under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974   (42 U.S.C. Section 5301 et seq.).          (b)  A municipality not described by Subsection (a) may   participate in the collection and publication of affordable housing   information described by Subchapter B.  A municipality that elects   to participate is subject to the requirements of this chapter.   SUBCHAPTER B.  COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION          Sec. 373C.051.  ANNUAL MUNICIPAL SURVEY. (a)  A   municipality shall conduct an annual survey of all affordable   housing units located in the municipality.  The survey must collect   the following information for each unit, as applicable:                 (1)  the unit type;                 (2)  the monthly rent;                 (3)  the estimated monthly cost of basic utilities not   included in the rent amount;                 (4)  any eligibility requirement, including any   average median income restriction;                 (5)  the length of any waiting list;                 (6)  each social service provided to a tenant,   including a supportive service;                 (7)  the distance to nearby essential services,   including:                       (A)  public transit stops;                       (B)  public elementary and secondary schools;                       (C)  community health centers;                       (D)  emergency medical facilities;                       (E)  public safety facilities, including fire   departments or police stations;                       (F)  community centers; and                       (G)  food retailers providing grocery items and   fresh produce;                 (8)  the distance to public community spaces, including   parks, sports facilities, and playgrounds; and                (9)  a telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail   address for a prospective tenant to inquire about renting the unit.           (b)  A municipality may collect and use the information   required to be collected by Subsection (a) from any available   source, including information collected for a survey conducted by   the municipality in a previous year, provided that the municipality   verifies the information is current and accurate.           (c)  A municipality shall provide the information collected   under this section to any state agency that requests the   information.           Sec. 373C.052.  DATABASE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INFORMATION.   (a) A municipality shall publish the information collected under   Section 373C.051 in a searchable database on a publicly accessible   Internet website and mobile application. The municipality must   ensure that the database enables a person to:                (1)  search for an affordable housing unit using the   characteristics described by Section 373C.051(a);                (2)  update the database in real time if the person is   authorized by the municipality to do so; and                (3)  view the complete survey information collected   under that section.           (b)  A municipality shall update the municipality's database   described by Subsection (a) at least annually.           Sec. 373C.053.  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY   AFFAIRS POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)  The department shall adopt rules   necessary to implement and administer this subchapter, including   rules on the collection, compilation, analysis, and publication of   information on the availability and accessibility of affordable   housing in this state.           (b)  The department shall publish reports on the   availability and accessibility of affordable housing in this state   using information collected by municipalities under this   subchapter and other information available to the department.           (c)  The department may cooperate with any governmental or   private entity to carry out the department's duties under this   subchapter.           (d)  The department may use gifts, grants, donations, or   money appropriated to the department to carry out the department's   duties under this subchapter.           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.