BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1079 By: Kolkhorst Agriculture & Livestock Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a community development block grant administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs uses a state community development review committee to advise the executive director of the office on the administration of the grant. The committee is also responsible for receiving and reviewing appeals from grant applicants. Since the inception of the current grant approval process, a number of concerns have been raised regarding the increasing costs of travel for the committee and the frequent lack of quorums at the committee's bimonthly meetings. The inability of the committee to act in a timely fashion has resulted in the delay of disaster relief and other urgent projects. H.B. 1079 abolishes the state community development review committee and transfers its appellate duties to the governing board of the Office of Rural Community Affairs. This transfer will enable the office to avoid delays on critical projects and will save general revenue by transferring oversight to the office. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1079 amends the Government Code to repeal provisions establishing the state community development review committee. The bill abolishes that committee; authorizes an applicant for community development block grant funding to appeal a decision of the executive director of the Office of Rural Community Affairs, rather than a decision of the committee, by filing an appeal with the board of the office; and requires the board to hold a hearing on the appeal and render a decision. H.B. 1079 repeals Section 487.353, Government Code. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1079
By: Kolkhorst
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1079
By: Kolkhorst
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a community development block grant administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs uses a state community development review committee to advise the executive director of the office on the administration of the grant. The committee is also responsible for receiving and reviewing appeals from grant applicants. Since the inception of the current grant approval process, a number of concerns have been raised regarding the increasing costs of travel for the committee and the frequent lack of quorums at the committee's bimonthly meetings. The inability of the committee to act in a timely fashion has resulted in the delay of disaster relief and other urgent projects. H.B. 1079 abolishes the state community development review committee and transfers its appellate duties to the governing board of the Office of Rural Community Affairs. This transfer will enable the office to avoid delays on critical projects and will save general revenue by transferring oversight to the office.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1079 amends the Government Code to repeal provisions establishing the state community development review committee. The bill abolishes that committee; authorizes an applicant for community development block grant funding to appeal a decision of the executive director of the Office of Rural Community Affairs, rather than a decision of the committee, by filing an appeal with the board of the office; and requires the board to hold a hearing on the appeal and render a decision. H.B. 1079 repeals Section 487.353, Government Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, a community development block grant administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs uses a state community development review committee to advise the executive director of the office on the administration of the grant. The committee is also responsible for receiving and reviewing appeals from grant applicants.
Since the inception of the current grant approval process, a number of concerns have been raised regarding the increasing costs of travel for the committee and the frequent lack of quorums at the committee's bimonthly meetings. The inability of the committee to act in a timely fashion has resulted in the delay of disaster relief and other urgent projects.
H.B. 1079 abolishes the state community development review committee and transfers its appellate duties to the governing board of the Office of Rural Community Affairs. This transfer will enable the office to avoid delays on critical projects and will save general revenue by transferring oversight to the office.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1079 amends the Government Code to repeal provisions establishing the state community development review committee. The bill abolishes that committee; authorizes an applicant for community development block grant funding to appeal a decision of the executive director of the Office of Rural Community Affairs, rather than a decision of the committee, by filing an appeal with the board of the office; and requires the board to hold a hearing on the appeal and render a decision.
H.B. 1079 repeals Section 487.353, Government Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.