HBA-CMT H.B. 2377 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2377 By: Burnam Urban Affairs 3/25/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Many people with disabilities face difficulties in securing housing. They often live at low income levels and encounter a shortage of housing units that adequately address accessibility requirements. The low income housing tax credit program is the primary means of directing private capital toward the creation of affordable rental housing in Texas, but not enough accessible housing units are being developed by this program to meet the demand Currently, some multifamily developments in Texas are based on design standards set forth in the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. House Bill 2377 requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to comply with accessibility standards outlined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for housing developed through the low income housing tax credit program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2377 amends the Government Code to require a project to which a low income housing tax credit is allocated to comply with the accessibility standards required under the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.