H.B. No. 1428
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of housing funds set aside for
  persons with disabilities through the homebuyer assistance
  program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2306.111, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows:
         (c-3)  In administering funds that are set aside for persons
  with disabilities under Subsection (c)(2) and allocated through the
  homebuyer assistance program, the department:
               (1)  may not require a person to enter into a contract
  to purchase a home before applying for or reserving funds allocated
  through the program; and
               (2)  by rule shall implement a preapproval process
  under which a person:
                     (A)  before funds allocated through the program
  are made available, may establish eligibility to receive those
  funds; and
                     (B)  has an adequate period of at least 90 days in
  which to locate a home for purchase using funds made available under
  the program. 
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Housing and Community
  Affairs shall adopt rules under Section 2306.111(c-3), Government
  Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2015.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an application for housing funds that are administered through
  the homebuyer assistance program submitted to the Texas Department
  of Housing and Community Affairs on or after the date the rules
  adopted by the department under Section 2306.111(c-3), Government
  Code, as added by this Act, take effect. An application for housing
  funds submitted before the date the rules take effect is governed by
  the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1428 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1428 was passed by the Senate on May
  20, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor