S.B. No. 1716

	AN ACT
	relating to the governance of certain housing authorities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 392.031(b), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A commissioner may not be an officer or employee of the
	municipality. A commissioner may be:
	(1)  a tenant of a public project over which the housing
	authority has jurisdiction; or
	(2)  a person who is a recipient of housing assistance
	administered through the authority's housing choice voucher
	program.
	SECTION 2.  Section 392.0331, Local Government Code, is
	amended by amending Subsections (b), (g), and (h) and adding
	Subsections (b-2) and (h-1) to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), in appointing
	commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality with a
	municipal housing authority composed of five commissioners shall
	appoint at least one commissioner to the authority who is a tenant
	of a public housing project over which the authority has
	jurisdiction. Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), in [In]
	appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a municipality
	with a municipal housing authority composed of seven or more
	commissioners shall appoint at least two commissioners to the
	authority who are tenants of a public housing project over which the
	authority has jurisdiction.
	(b-2)  In appointing commissioners under Section 392.031, a
	municipality that has a population over two million and a municipal
	housing authority composed of seven or more commissioners shall
	appoint at least two commissioners to the authority who are:
	(1)  tenants of a public housing project over which the
	authority has jurisdiction; or
	(2)  recipients of housing assistance administered
	through the authority's housing choice voucher program.
	(g)  A commissioner appointed under this section may not
	participate:
	(1)  in any vote or discussion concerning the
	termination of:
	(A)  the commissioner's occupancy rights in
	public housing;
	(B)  the commissioner's rights to housing
	assistance administered through a housing choice voucher program;
	or
	(C)  the rights of any person related in the first
	degree by consanguinity to the commissioner with respect to the
	person's occupancy rights in public housing or right to receive
	housing assistance administered through a housing choice voucher
	program; or
	(2)  in a grievance or administrative hearing in which
	the commissioner or a person related in the first degree by
	consanguinity to the commissioner is a party.
	(h)  If a commissioner appointed under this section as a
	tenant of a public housing project ceases to reside in a housing
	unit operated by the public housing authority during the
	commissioner's term, a majority of the other commissioners shall
	decide whether to request that a new commissioner be appointed. A
	majority of the commissioners may decide to allow the commissioner
	to serve the remaining portion of the commissioner's term.
	(h-1)  If a commissioner appointed under this section as a
	recipient of housing assistance administered through the
	authority's housing choice voucher program ceases to receive that
	assistance, a majority of the other commissioners shall decide
	whether to request that a new commissioner be appointed. A majority
	of the commissioners may decide to allow the commissioner to serve
	the remaining portion of the commissioner's term.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1716 passed the Senate on
	May 4, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 2.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1716 passed the House on
	May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 12, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor