H.B. No. 2450
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of programs by the Texas Department
  of Housing and Community Affairs in response to or in preparation
  for a natural disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2306.188 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2306.188.  ESTABLISHING HOME OWNERSHIP IN DISASTER
  AREA. (a) An applicant for federally provided financial
  assistance administered by the department to repair or rebuild a
  home damaged by a natural disaster may establish ownership of the
  home through nontraditional documentation of title. The department
  shall process an application for that assistance as if the
  applicant is the record title holder of the affected real property
  if the applicant provides to the department:
               (1)  on a form prescribed by the department, an
  affidavit summarizing the basis on which the applicant claims to be
  the holder of record title or, if applicable, a successor in
  interest to the holder of record title and stating that:
                     (A)  there is no other person entitled to claim
  any ownership interest in the property; or
                     (B)  each person who may be entitled to claim an
  ownership interest in the property has given consent to the
  application or cannot be located after a reasonable effort; and
               (2)  other documentation, including tax receipts,
  utility bills, or evidence of insurance for the home, that
  indicates that the applicant exercised ownership over the property
  at the time of the natural disaster.
         (b)  This section does not establish record ownership or
  otherwise alter legal ownership of real property.
         (c)  The department is not liable to any claimed owner of an
  interest in real property for administering financial assistance as
  permitted by this section.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 2306, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter X-2 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER X-2.  NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
  INITIATIVE
         Sec. 2306.541.  NATURAL DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION
  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  The director shall appoint a natural
  disaster housing reconstruction advisory committee composed of
  representatives from appropriate local, state, and federal
  entities and organizations and nonprofit organizations.
         (b)  The advisory committee shall develop a natural disaster
  housing reconstruction plan.  In developing this plan, the advisory
  committee shall:
               (1)  evaluate existing systems of providing temporary
  housing to victims of natural disasters and develop alternative
  systems to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness;
               (2)  evaluate existing models for providing permanent
  replacement housing to victims of natural disasters;
               (3)  design alternatives to existing models to improve
  the sustainability, affordability, desirability, and quality of
  housing rebuilt in the event of future natural disasters;
               (4)  evaluate economic circumstances of elderly,
  disabled, and low-income victims of natural disasters and develop
  models for providing affordable replacement housing;
               (5)  recommend programs for the rapid and efficient
  large-scale production of temporary and permanent replacement
  housing following a natural disaster; and
               (6)  encourage the participation, coordination, and
  involvement of appropriate federal organizations.
         (c)  Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory committee.
         Sec. 2306.542.  HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION PILOT
  PROGRAM.  (a)  Using the natural disaster housing reconstruction
  plan developed under this subchapter, the director and advisory
  committee shall develop, for implementation under Subsections (b)
  and (c), housing reconstruction demonstration pilot programs for
  three areas, each of which was affected by one of the three most
  recent federally declared natural disasters.  The pilot programs
  must provide for the replacement of at least 20 houses in each area
  to test the feasibility of implementing the plan in the large-scale
  production of replacement housing for victims of federally declared
  natural disasters.
         (b)  The department shall provide to an interested council of
  government, county, or local government eligible for funding for
  disaster recovery under the community development block grant
  program:
               (1)  information regarding a pilot program developed
  under Subsection (a); and
               (2)  assistance in implementing a pilot program
  developed under Subsection (a).
         (c)  At the discretion of the board, the department may
  implement a pilot program in any of the three most recently
  federally declared disaster areas in which a pilot program has not
  been implemented by a council of government, county, or local
  government.  The department may use any available funds to
  implement the pilot program.
         SECTION 3.  The purpose of this Act in adding Subchapter X-2,
  Chapter 2306, Government Code, is to encourage the development of a
  model plan for future reconstruction efforts to increase the
  effective and efficient delivery of natural disaster housing
  recovery services by state agencies.  This Act is not meant to delay
  or otherwise interfere with ongoing reconstruction efforts.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  Not later than January 1, 2010, the
  executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
  Affairs shall submit the natural disaster housing reconstruction
  plan developed under Subsection (b), Section 2306.541, Government
  Code, as added by this Act, to the governing board of the Texas
  Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
         (b)  Not later than March 1, 2010, the executive director of
  the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall provide
  housing reconstruction demonstration pilot program information to
  an interested council of government, county, or local government
  eligible for funding for disaster recovery under the community
  development block grant program.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2450 was passed by the House on April
  28, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2450 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2450 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor