81R1521 KSD-D
By: Miller of Erath H.B. No. 377
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation and funding of the Texas Rural Job
Development Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 481.078, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
(k) The fund may be used to make one or more grants to the
Office of Rural Community Affairs to implement the office's powers
and duties relating to rural job development. Subsections (e-1),
(f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to a grant under this
subsection.
SECTION 2. Chapter 487, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. TEXAS RURAL JOB DEVELOPMENT FUND
Sec. 487.801. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is
to:
(1) promote rural employment opportunities, including
economic development projects that will stimulate job creation or
assist in job retention;
(2) foster regional collaboration for the development
of rural employment opportunities;
(3) enhance leadership capacity and civic
participation in rural Texas in an inclusive manner;
(4) facilitate wealth creation and retention in rural
communities to decrease long-term dependency on state and federal
resources;
(5) assist in the development of a highly skilled and
productive workforce in rural communities;
(6) assist the workers in rural areas of this state in
obtaining education, skills training, and labor market information
to enhance their employability, earnings, and standard of living;
and
(7) assist rural communities in this state by
providing economic incentive programs for job creation,
attraction, and expansion.
Sec. 487.802. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Development fund" means the Texas Rural Job
Development Fund.
(2) "Rural community" means a rural area as defined by
the office.
Sec. 487.803. TEXAS RURAL JOB DEVELOPMENT FUND. (a) The
Texas Rural Job Development Fund is an account in the general
revenue fund. The account is composed of:
(1) legislative appropriations;
(2) money received from the Texas Enterprise Fund
under Section 481.078;
(3) gifts, grants, donations, and matching funds
received under Subsection (b); and
(4) other money required by law to be deposited in the
account.
(b) The office may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations of money from the federal government, local governments,
private corporations, or other persons to be used for the purposes
of this subchapter.
(c) Income from money in the account shall be credited to
the account.
(d) Money in the development fund may be used only for the
purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 487.804. INCENTIVES. The office shall offer
incentives in the form of grants and loans to entrepreneurs and
businesses creating or retaining jobs in a rural community.
SECTION 3. The executive committee of the Office of Rural
Community Affairs shall adopt rules for the program under
Subchapter R, Chapter 487, Government Code, as added by this Act,
not later than March 1, 2010.
SECTION 4. Implementation of the program under Subchapter
R, Chapter 487, Government Code, as added by this Act, is contingent
on appropriation of funding by the legislature.
SECTION 5. 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, 2009.