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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the application process for single family housing loans |
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offered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2306.079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.079. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR SINGLE FAMILY |
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HOUSING LOANS. (a) The department shall establish and maintain an |
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electronic tracking and notification service by which applicants |
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for single family housing loans offered by the department may |
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receive updated information regarding the application process and |
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their specific application status: |
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(1) through individualized electronic mail sent to an |
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applicant during each stage of the application process by the |
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department; and |
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(2) by entering on the department's Internet website |
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the tracking number assigned to a particular application. |
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(b) Information made available to each applicant regarding |
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the application process must include: |
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(1) the projected closing date of the loan; |
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(2) the projected time required for evaluating the |
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application during each stage of the application process; and |
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(3) staff telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for |
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each stage of the application process. |
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(c) Information made available to each applicant regarding |
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the status of the application must include real-time communication |
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regarding: |
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(1) the movement of the application from one stage of |
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the application process to another; and |
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(2) any major delay or unexpected department action |
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that could affect the actual closing date of the loan. |
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(d) To provide increased public access to internal |
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department decision-making regarding the processing of single |
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family housing loan applications, the department by rule shall |
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establish objective criteria that will govern any special |
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consideration or priority given to applications for single family |
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housing loans, other than criteria specifically required or |
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permitted by law. |
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(e) The department shall expedite or otherwise handle |
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single family housing loan applications outside the ordinary course |
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of application processing only as required or permitted by law or |
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department rule. |
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(f) On the department's Internet website, the department |
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shall identify and describe the rationale or basis for any special |
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consideration or priority given to specific single family housing |
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loan applications that were expedited or otherwise handled outside |
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the ordinary course of application processing. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2011, the Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall establish the |
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electronic tracking and notification service required by Section |
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2306.079, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |