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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for |
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community development in certain municipalities and counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 23 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 23. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR RURAL |
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AND SMALL COMMUNITIES |
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Sec. 23.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means |
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the community development matching grant program established under |
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this chapter. |
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Sec. 23.002. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) Subject to the availability of federal and state funds, the |
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department shall create a community development matching grant |
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program to foster community and economic development in certain |
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municipalities and counties. |
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(b) The department shall award matching grants under the |
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program to assist in the financing of: |
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(1) trade-related initiatives and programs, as |
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determined by the commissioner, that will assist farmers, ranchers, |
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and the equine industry in eligible municipalities or counties to |
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develop and export their produce, products, and services to |
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international markets; |
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(2) community development projects, including basic |
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infrastructure projects such as water or wastewater facilities and |
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planning, street improvements, and drainage; |
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(3) capacity-building projects relating to local |
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public facility and housing planning activities; |
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(4) renewable energy projects to help participating |
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rural communities reduce energy costs for water and wastewater |
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treatment facilities; |
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(5) restoration projects for water or wastewater |
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infrastructure based on urgent need, if the infrastructure poses an |
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imminent threat to life or health; |
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(6) economic development projects to create or retain |
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permanent employment opportunities; |
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(7) economic development projects to support economic |
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and management development activities at the county level; |
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(8) environmental projects that provide assistance to |
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small communities for solving water or wastewater problems using |
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self-help methods; and |
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(9) other community development projects as |
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determined by the department with the assistance of the Texas Rural |
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Health and Economic Development Advisory Council. |
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Sec. 23.003. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. A municipality or county |
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is eligible for a matching grant under this chapter if the |
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municipality or county is: |
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(1) a nonentitlement area, as defined by 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 5302(a)(7), under the federal community development block |
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grant nonentitlement program; and |
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(2) in good standing with the department and with the |
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United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. |
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Sec. 23.004. APPLICATIONS. Eligible municipalities or |
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counties may submit a single-jurisdiction application or a |
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multi-jurisdiction application for a matching grant under the |
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program for a community development project. An application must |
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include a description of the project proposal. |
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Sec. 23.005. PREFERENCE FOR MULTI-JURISDICTION |
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APPLICATIONS. (a) In awarding a matching grant under the program, |
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the department shall give preference to an application submitted |
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under the program by two or more eligible municipalities or |
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counties if the application shows that the proposed community |
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development project will mutually benefit the residents of the |
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communities applying for the funds. |
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(b) A multi-jurisdiction application solely for |
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administrative convenience may not be accepted by the department. |
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(c) A municipality or county that has submitted a |
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multi-jurisdiction application may not submit a |
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single-jurisdiction application for a matching grant for the same |
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project for which the multi-jurisdiction application was |
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submitted. |
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(d) If a matching grant is awarded under this program, one |
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of the municipalities or counties participating under a |
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multi-jurisdiction application shall be primarily accountable to |
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the department for financial compliance and performance |
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requirements under the program. All municipalities and counties |
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applying under a multi-jurisdiction application must meet |
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application threshold requirements. |
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Sec. 23.006. RULES. (a) The department by rule shall set |
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criteria for matching grant requirements and participation under |
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the program. |
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(b) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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