(a) An Administrator must be certified prior to execution of a Reservation Agreement. The term of the Reservation Agreement shall not exceed 36 months, after which an Administrator must reapply for certification and a new Reservation Agreement.
(b) The Department will produce an Application to satisfy the Department's requirements to be certified to administer the Texas Bootstrap Loan Program. The Application will be available on the Department's website. Applications for a Reservation Agreement will include, at a minimum, criteria listed in subsections (c) - (m) of this section.
(c) An Application for certification must be submitted in the format required by the Department.
(d) If the Applicant is a Nonprofit Organization, Applicant must demonstrate:
  (1) The Applicant is registered and in good standing with Office of the Secretary of State and the State Comptroller's Office as a nonprofit corporation under the Texas Business Code or a nonprofit organization under any other state not-for-profit/nonprofit statute;
  (2) The net earnings of the Applicant may not inure to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual, as evidenced by charter, Bylaws, or Certificate of Formation or Articles of Incorporation, as applicable;
  (3) The Applicant has been granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a charitable, nonprofit corporation or as a subordinate organization of a central nonprofit corporation under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as evidenced by a certificate from the IRS dated 1986 or later. The exemption ruling must be effective on the date of the Application and must continue to be effective while certified as an Administrator.
  (4) The Applicant have among its purposes the provision of decent housing that is affordable to low and moderate income people as evidenced by a statement in the organization's charter, Certificate of Formation, Articles of Incorporation, Resolutions, or Bylaws.
(e) The Applicant must conform to the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as evidenced by a notarized statement by the Executive Director or chief financial officer of the organization in a form prescribed by the Department or certification from a Certified Public Accountant.
(f) If the Applicant proposes to provide interim or residential construction funds, it must provide an audited financial statement for the most recent fiscal year or a signed and dated financial statement for the period since last published audit. If the Applicant does not have audited financial statements or a signed and dated financial statement for the period since last published audit must provide a resolution from the Board of Directors that is signed and dated within 6 months from the date of Application and certifies that the accounting procedures used by the organization conform to the GAAP. Certified Administrators that do not have audited financial statements or a signed and dated financial statement for the period since last published audit are restricted to only originating permanent loans and will be ineligible for any interim or residential construction loans, until the Department has reviewed the most current audited financial statements.
(g) The Applicant must demonstrate capacity for carrying out Mortgage Loan origination and self-help housing construction Activities, as evidenced by resumes or statements that describe the experience of key staff members who have successfully completed projects similar to those to be assisted with Texas Bootstrap Loan Program funds; or contract(s) with consultant firms or individuals who have housing experience similar to projects to be assisted with Texas Bootstrap Loan Program funds, to train appropriate key staff of the organization.
(h) Religious or Faith-based Organizations (RFOs) may sponsor an Applicant if the Applicant meets all the requirements of this section. While the governing board of an Applicant sponsored by a religious or a faith-based organization remains subject to all other requirements in this section, the RFO may retain control over appointments to the board. Additionally, RFOs must comply with the following:
  (1) Housing developed must be made available exclusively for the residential use of Program beneficiaries, and must be made available to all persons regardless of religious affiliations or beliefs;
  (2) Texas Bootstrap Loan Program funds may never be used to support any explicitly religious activities such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing; and
  (3) Compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection must be evidenced by the Bylaws, charter or Certificate of Formation.
(i) Program Design and Guidelines. The Applicant must have policies for how the Owner-Builders participating in its Program will meet the self-help requirements and guidelines related to qualifying potential Owner-Builders.
(j) The Applicant must provide to the Department the number of houses they are proposing to build, type of proposed financing structure and construction timelines, to evidence its ability to carry out the Program.
(k) The Applicant must provide curriculum related to homebuyer education, as well as evidence of its ability to provide HUD-certified housing counseling, which may be provided by the Administrator or another HUD-certified provider.
(l) The Applicant must be in compliance with 10 TAC §1.403, (relating to Single Audit Requirements), and 10 TAC §20.8, (relating to Fair Housing, Affirmative Marketing and Reasonable Accommodations) at the time of Application.
(m) The Applicant must be in compliance with any existing Contracts awarded by the Department and is subject to the Department's Previous Participation Review process provided for in 10 TAC §1.302 (relating to Previous Participation Reviews for Department Program Awards Not Covered by §1.301 of this Subchapter) and §1.303 (relating to Executive Award and Review Advisory Committee (EARAC) of this title.

Source Note: The provisions of this §24.12 adopted to be effective March 28, 2024, 49 TexReg 1907