TITLE: Relating to the governance of public housing authorities established by certain municipalities.

SUMMARY: Relating to the governance of public housing authorities established by certain municipalities.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the governance of public housing authorities established by certain municipalities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 392.031, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) to read as follows: (a) Each municipal housing authority shall be governed by five, seven, nine, or 11 commissioners. (a-1) For a housing authority of a municipality with a population of 40,000 or more, the [The] presiding officer of the governing body of the [a] municipality shall appoint five, seven, nine, or 11 persons to serve as commissioners of the authority. (a-2) For a housing authority of a municipality with a population of less than 40,000, the governing body of the municipality by majority vote shall appoint five, seven, nine, or 11 persons to serve as commissioners of the authority. (a-3) An appointed commissioner of the authority may not be an officer or employee of the municipality. Appointments made under this section must comply with the requirements of Section 392.0331, if applicable. SECTION 2. Section 392.0331(b-1), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b-1) A [The presiding officer of the governing body of a] municipality that has a municipal housing authority in which the total number of units is 150 or fewer is not required to appoint a tenant or a recipient of housing assistance to the position of commissioner as otherwise required by Subsection (b) if the municipality [presiding officer] has provided timely notice of a vacancy in the position to all eligible tenants or recipients of housing assistance and is unable to fill the position with an eligible tenant or recipient of housing assistance before the 60th day after the date the position becomes vacant. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act in amending Section 392.031, Local Government Code, does not affect the ability of a commissioner of a housing authority who was appointed by the presiding officer of the governing body of a municipality under that section and who is serving on the effective date of this Act to continue to serve the remainder of the term to which the commissioner is appointed. As the terms of commissioners of the housing authority expire or as a vacancy is created in a commissioner's position, the governing body of the municipality shall appoint the commissioners as required by Section 392.031, Local Government Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.