TITLE 10. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PART 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

CHAPTER 54. DISASTER RECOVERY

10 TAC §54.1, §54.2

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs proposes new 10 TAC Chapter 54, Disaster Recovery, §54.1, concerning Definitions, and §54.2, concerning General Provisions. The proposed new sections will establish rules to ensure compliance with statutory funding requirements, formalize existing policy, to effectively monitor the activities under disaster assistance, to ensure benchmarks are achieved and disaster funds are spent timely.

Mr. Michael Gerber, Executive Director, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposed sections are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the sections as proposed.

Mr. Gerber has also determined that for each year of the first five years the sections are in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rules will be enhanced compliance with formalized policy, all contractual and statutory requirements. There will be no effect on small businesses or persons. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the sections as proposed.

The new sections are proposed pursuant to the authority of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2306, which provides the Department the authority to adopt rules governing the administration of the Department and its programs.

The proposed new sections affect no other code, article or statute.

§54.1.Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) CDBG--Community Development Block Grant.

(2) Good cause--Verifiable events beyond the control of the TDHCA and the Subrecipient such as unavailability of records from third parties, impediments due to coordination with other governmental entities, delays due to inclement weather or other acts of God, funding delays, wide-spread shortage of labor or other significant resources.

(3) NOFA--Notice of Funding Availability.

(4) RFP--Request for Proposal.

(5) TDHCA--Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

§54.2.General Provisions.

(a) The Contract term will not exceed twenty-four (24) months, and performance under the Contract will be evaluated with the following benchmarks:

(1) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Homeowner Assistance Activities. The Contract term will not exceed twenty-four (24) months. Performance under the Contract will be based on the following benchmarks from the Contract begin date:

(A) Six (6) months--Pool of applicants identified, eligibility assessment begun including site specific environmental on a minimum of 10% of applicants;

(B) Eight (8) months--Procurement complete for contractors used for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, 25% of the households to be assisted environmentally cleared;

(C) Twelve (12) months--Eligibility determined on 100% of the households receiving assistance under Homeowner Assistance Programs, 50% of the funds committed to eligible households, and 10% of the project funds drawn;

(D) Eighteen (18) months--100% of the project funds must be committed to the households receiving assistance, 50% of the homes must be under construction or rehabilitation, and 25% of the project funds drawn;

(E) Twenty-two (22) months--100% of the construction for all homes must be complete, 75% of the project funds drawn; and

(F) Twenty-four (24) months--85% of project funds are drawn, close out must be complete within sixty (60) days of end of contract.

(2) CDBG Rental Activities. The Contract term will not exceed twenty-four (24) months. Performance under the Contract and State administered programs will be based on the following benchmarks from the Contract begin date:

(A) Six (6) months--The RFP or NOFA, as applicable, must be published;

(B) Eight (8) months--Developments must be selected under rental programs and environmentally cleared;

(C) Twelve (12) months--Loan closing must be closed for any rental components and 10% of project funds drawn;

(D) Eighteen (18) months--50% of project funds drawn;

(E) Twenty-two (22) months--75% of the project funds drawn; and

(F) Twenty-four (24) months--100% of construction complete, certificates of occupancy issued, 95% of funds drawn. Close out must be complete within sixty (60) days of end of contract.

(3) CDBG Disaster Downpayment Homeownership Assistance Activities. The Contract term will not exceed twenty-four (24) months. Performance under the Contract will be based on the following benchmarks from the Contract begin date:

(A) Six (6) months--Pool of applicants identified, eligibility assessment begun including site specific environmental on a minimum of 25% of applicants;

(B) Twelve (12) months--Eligibility determination made on 100% of applicants, 25% of the project funds drawn;

(C) Eighteen (18) months--50% of the applicants assisted, 45% of project funds drawn; and

(D) Twenty-four (24) months--100% of the applicants assisted, 75% of project funds drawn. Close out must be complete within sixty (60) days of end of contract.

(b) The Executive Director of the TDHCA may grant one extension to revise benchmarks and/or lower percentages, due to good cause.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 20, 2009.

TRD-200902947

Michael Gerber

Executive Director

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 30, 2009

For further information, please call: (512) 475-3916