HBA-ATS S.B. 623 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 623
By: Lucio
Business & Industry
5/12/1999
Engrossed


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, no provisions exist for federally- or state-subsidized
constructed single-family homes to meet certain basic accessibility
requirements.  S.B. 623 enumerates the special features that must be
included in the construction of affordable housing by a person who has been
awarded state or federal funds by the Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs for such a purpose.  

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter X, Chapter 2306, Government Code, by adding
Section 2306.514, as follows: 

Sec. 2306.514.  CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. (a)
Enumerates the special features that must be included in the construction
of affordable housing by a person who has been awarded state or federal
funds by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for such a
purpose.  The home must have at least one entrance door that is on an
accessible route served by a ramp or no-step entrance and has a net clear
opening of at least 30 inches.  In addition, each interior door on the
first floor of the building must be a standard 30-inch door, unless the
door provides access only to a closet of fewer than 15 square feet in area.
Likewise, each hallway on the first floor of the building must have a width
of at least 36 inches and must be level, with ramped or beveled changes at
each door threshold.  Each bathroom wall on the first floor of the building
must be reinforced for potential installation of grab bars. Each electrical
panel or breaker box, light switch, or thermostat on the first floor of the
building must not be higher than 48 inches above the floor.  Additionally,
each electrical plug or other receptacle on the first floor of the building
must be at least 15 inches above the floor.  Each breaker box must be
located inside the building on the first floor.  

(b) Authorizes a person who constructs affordable housing to obtain a
waiver from having to construct an accessible route served by a ramp or
no-step entrance if the cost of grading the terrain to meet this
requirement is prohibitively expensive. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.