HOMEBUYER EDUCATION PROGRAM.

(a) The department shall develop and implement a statewide homebuyer education program designed to provide information and counseling to prospective homebuyers about the home buying process.

(b) The department shall develop the program in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Texas Department of Human Services, the Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, the Texas Workforce Commission, experienced homebuyer education providers, community-based organizations, and advocates of affordable housing. The department shall implement the program through self-help centers when feasible.

(c) The department shall make full use of existing training and informational materials available from sources such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the cooperative extension system, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and existing homebuyer education providers.

(d) In order to implement this section, the department may use money available to the department for housing purposes that the department is not prohibited from spending on the homebuyer education program, including:

(1) the amount of administrative or service fees the department receives from the issuance or refunding of bonds that exceeds the amount the department needs to pay its overhead costs in administering its bond programs; and

(2) money the department receives from other entities by gift or grant under a contract.