** REVISION **
SENATE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

COMMITTEE:     Intergovernmental Relations 

TIME & DATE:   10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 27, 2018 

PLACE:         E1.028 (Hearing Room) 
CHAIR:         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 

 

 

The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations will meet to hear invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:

 

Hurricane Harvey Related Charges

 

·                Examine and report on ways to improve the coordination of rebuilding housing and infrastructure following a natural disaster, including evaluating additional cost effective options for FEMA to utilize in providing direct housing assistance immediately following a disaster, creation of comprehensive lists of housing opportunities or web portals to disseminate information to survivors, ways to automatically waive local government regulations to facilitate rebuilding, and additional local resources available for rebuilding efforts.

 

·                Monitor the distribution of federal disaster relief funds related to housing and infrastructure, including community development block grant (CDBG) funds, to ensure the timely dissemination of monies by state entities to local governments for reconstruction efforts. Develop recommendations for any statutory changes necessary to improve the efficiency of disaster recovery efforts, maximize housing and infrastructure funds, and ensure cooperation between private and government partners.

 

·                Review and recommend options to expedite debris removal, including cutting unnecessary regulation and streamlining the process.

 

·                Identify and report on existing disaster training opportunities available for local officials and make recommendations for training programs that equip them to efficiently interact with state and federal agencies during times of disaster.

 

Interim Legislative Charge

 

·                Special Purpose Districts Bond Reform: Study the state agency review of tax exempt bonds issued by special purpose districts and public improvement districts used to finance water and sewer infrastructure in new residential and commercial developments. Examine the disparities that exist between the feasibility review of water and sewer bonds backed by property- based assessments and those backed by ad valorem taxes, and make recommendations that ensure the continued stability of the Texas tax- exempt bond market by requiring all districts to undergo appropriate reviews prior to issuance.

 

 

Public testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per person.  For those wishing to provide written testimony, please submit 20 copies to the Committee with your name on each copy.

 

 

 

** See Committee Coordinator for previous versions of the schedule **