Sec. 11.305. RESEARCH. (a) The finance commission shall instruct the consumer credit commissioner to establish a program to address alternatives to high-cost lending in this state. The program shall:
(1) study and report on the problem of high-cost lending, including without limitation the availability, quality, and prices of financial services, including lending and depository services, offered in this state to agricultural businesses, small businesses, and individual consumers in this state;
(2) evaluate alternatives to high-cost lending and the practices of business entities in this state that provide financial services to agricultural businesses, small businesses, and individual consumers in this state;
(3) develop models to provide lower-cost alternatives to assist borrowers who contract for high-cost loans; and
(4) track the location of lenders who enter into loan contracts providing for an interest charge authorized by Section 342.201, map the location of the lenders by senatorial district and by any other appropriate areas, provide other demographic information relating to the loans and the location of the lenders, and provide information on the changes in the distribution of the lenders from 1997 through the date of the report.
(b) The program may:
(1) apply for and receive public and private grants and gifts to conduct the research authorized by this section;
(2) contract with public and private entities to carry out studies and analyses under this section;
(3) provide funding for pilot programs; and
(4) make grants to nonprofit institutions working to provide alternatives to high-cost loans.
(c) Not later than December 1 of each year, the consumer credit commissioner shall provide to the legislature a report detailing its findings and making recommendations to improve the availability, quality, and prices of financial services.
(d) The Texas Department of Banking and the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending shall jointly conduct a continuing review of the condition of the state banking system. The review must include a review of all available national and state economic forecasts and an analysis of changing banking practices and new banking legislation. Periodically the departments shall submit a report to the finance commission on the results of the review, including information relating to the condition of the state banking system at the time of the report and the predicted condition of that system in the future.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 867, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 916, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 2.03(c), eff. June 16, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 6.009, eff. September 1, 2007.
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