87R8967 JG-F     By: Guillen H.B. No. 2670       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the eligibility of social workers for the Homes for   Texas Heroes home loan program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2306.5621(a), Government Code, is   amended by amending Subdivision (2) and adding Subdivision (15-a)   to read as follows:                (2)  "Home" means a dwelling in this state in which a   fire fighter, corrections officer, county jailer, public security   officer, peace officer, professional educator, social worker,   veteran, or person defined as emergency medical services personnel   under this section intends to reside as the borrower's principal   residence.                (15-a) "Social worker" has the meaning assigned by   Section 505.002, Occupations Code.          SECTION 2.  Sections 2306.5621(b), (c), (d), (f), and (h-1),   Government Code, are amended to read as follows:          (b)  The corporation shall establish a program to provide   eligible fire fighters, corrections officers, county jailers,   public security officers, peace officers, emergency medical   services personnel, professional educators, social workers, and   veterans with low-interest home mortgage loans.          (c)  To be eligible for a loan under this section, at the time   a person files an application for the loan, the person must:                (1)  be a:                      (A)  fire fighter, corrections officer, county   jailer, public security officer, peace officer, social worker,   veteran, or person defined as emergency medical services personnel   under this section; or                      (B)  professional educator who is employed by a   school district or is an allied health or professional nursing   program faculty member in this state;                (2)  reside in this state; and                (3)  have an income of not more than 115 percent of area   median family income, adjusted for family size, or the maximum   amount permitted by Section 143(f), Internal Revenue Code of 1986,   whichever is greater.          (d)  The corporation may contract with other agencies of the   state or with private entities to determine whether applicants   qualify as fire fighters, corrections officers, county jailers,   public security officers, peace officers, emergency medical   services personnel, professional educators, social workers, or   veterans under this section or otherwise to administer all or part   of this section.          (f)  The board of directors of the corporation shall adopt   rules governing:                (1)  the administration of the program;                (2)  the making of loans under the program;                (3)  the criteria for approving mortgage lenders;                (4)  the use of insurance on the loans and the homes   financed under the program, as considered appropriate by the board   to provide additional security for the loans;                (5)  the verification of occupancy of the home by the   fire fighter, corrections officer, county jailer, public security   officer, peace officer, professional educator, social worker,   veteran, or person defined as emergency medical services personnel   as the borrower's principal residence; and                (6)  the terms of any contract made with any mortgage   lender for processing, originating, servicing, or administering   the loans.          (h-1)  To fund home mortgage loans for eligible fire   fighters, corrections officers, county jailers, public security   officers, peace officers, emergency medical services personnel,   professional educators, social workers, and veterans under this   section, the corporation may use any proceeds received from the   sale of bonds, notes, or other obligations issued under the home   loan program provided by this section, regardless of any amendments   to the eligibility standards for loans made under the program and   regardless of when the corporation received the proceeds from those   bonds, notes, or other obligations issued under the program.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2021.