RESEARCH.

(a) The consumer credit commissioner shall establish a program to address alternatives to high-cost lending in this state. The program shall:

(1) study and report on high-cost lending, including the availability, quality, and prices of financial services offered in this state to individual consumers in this state; and

(2) evaluate alternatives to high-cost lending and the practices of business entities in this state that provide financial services to individual consumers in this state.

(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.