Bill Text: TX SB1554 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for community development in certain municipalities and counties.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-21 - Placed on General State Calendar [SB1554 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SB1554-Engrossed.html
By: Lucio | S.B. No. 1554 |
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relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for | ||
community development in certain municipalities and counties. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding | ||
Chapter 23 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 23. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR RURAL | ||
AND SMALL COMMUNITIES | ||
Sec. 23.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means | ||
the community development matching grant program established under | ||
this chapter. | ||
Sec. 23.002. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. | ||
(a) Subject to the availability of federal and state funds, the | ||
department shall create a community development matching grant | ||
program to foster community and economic development in certain | ||
municipalities and counties. | ||
(b) The department shall award matching grants under the | ||
program to assist in the financing of: | ||
(1) community development projects, including basic | ||
infrastructure projects such as water or wastewater facilities and | ||
planning, street improvements, and drainage; | ||
(2) capacity-building projects relating to local | ||
public facility and housing planning activities; | ||
(3) renewable energy projects to help participating | ||
rural communities reduce energy costs for water and wastewater | ||
treatment facilities; | ||
(4) restoration projects for water or wastewater | ||
infrastructure based on urgent need, if the infrastructure poses an | ||
imminent threat to life or health; | ||
(5) economic development projects to create or retain | ||
permanent employment opportunities; | ||
(6) economic development projects to support economic | ||
and management development activities at the county level; | ||
(7) environmental projects that provide assistance to | ||
small communities for solving water or wastewater problems using | ||
self-help methods; and | ||
(8) other community development projects as | ||
determined by the department with the assistance of the Texas Rural | ||
Health and Economic Development Advisory Council. | ||
Sec. 23.003. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. A municipality or county | ||
is eligible for a matching grant under this chapter if the | ||
municipality or county is: | ||
(1) a nonentitlement area, as defined by 42 U.S.C. | ||
Section 5302(a)(7), under the federal community development block | ||
grant nonentitlement program; and | ||
(2) in good standing with the department and with the | ||
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. | ||
Sec. 23.004. APPLICATIONS. Eligible municipalities or | ||
counties may submit a single-jurisdiction application or a | ||
multi-jurisdiction application for a matching grant under the | ||
program for a community development project. An application must | ||
include a description of the project proposal. | ||
Sec. 23.005. PREFERENCE FOR MULTI-JURISDICTION | ||
APPLICATIONS. (a) In awarding a matching grant under the program, | ||
the department shall give preference to an application submitted | ||
under the program by two or more eligible municipalities or | ||
counties if the application shows that the proposed community | ||
development project will mutually benefit the residents of the | ||
communities applying for the funds. | ||
(b) A multi-jurisdiction application solely for | ||
administrative convenience may not be accepted by the department. | ||
(c) A municipality or county that has submitted a | ||
multi-jurisdiction application may not submit a | ||
single-jurisdiction application for a matching grant for the same | ||
project for which the multi-jurisdiction application was | ||
submitted. | ||
(d) If a matching grant is awarded under the program, one of | ||
the municipalities or counties participating under a | ||
multi-jurisdiction application shall be primarily accountable to | ||
the department for financial compliance and performance | ||
requirements under the program. All municipalities and counties | ||
applying under a multi-jurisdiction application must meet | ||
application threshold requirements. | ||
Sec. 23.006. RULES. (a) The department by rule shall set | ||
criteria for matching grant requirements and participation under | ||
the program. | ||
(b) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement | ||
this chapter. | ||
SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |