By: Miles (Senate Sponsor - Estes) H.B. No. 2994
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2011;
May 12, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 20, 2011, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 20, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation, operation, and funding of the urban farm
microenterprise support program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 44A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 44A. URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE SUPPORT PROGRAM
Sec. 44A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the Texas
Agricultural Finance Authority.
(2) "Microenterprise" means a small business in which
the owner operates the enterprise.
(3) "Urban area" means an area inside the boundaries
of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
Sec. 44A.002. CREATION OF URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE
SUPPORT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall create an urban farm
microenterprise support program to provide financial assistance to
microenterprises in urban areas that are primarily engaged in:
(1) research into processes and technology related to
agricultural production in an urban setting;
(2) the production or development of tools or
processes for agriculture in a manner suited for an urban setting;
or
(3) agricultural activities in a manner suited for an
urban setting.
(b) No state money may be used for purposes of the program.
Sec. 44A.003. URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE SUPPORT PROGRAM
LOANS. (a) On the receipt of gifts and grants of money under
Section 44A.004, the board shall establish and implement a loan
program supporting established and proposed urban farm
microenterprises in urban areas by providing loans to expand,
modernize, or otherwise improve the established microenterprises
and to begin operation of proposed microenterprises.
(b) An applicant applying on behalf of a proposed
microenterprise may receive a loan of up to $25,000 to begin
operation of the microenterprise.
(c) An applicant applying on behalf of an established
microenterprise may receive a loan of up to $50,000 to expand,
modernize, or otherwise improve an established microenterprise.
(d) The board may reserve a portion of the total fund for use
in cooperative loan programs established with the participation of
other public or private lenders.
(e) The board by rule may provide for the administration by
a private or public entity of the loans awarded under the loan
program.
Sec. 44A.004. MONEY FOR LOANS. The board may accept gifts
and grants of money from the federal government, local governments,
or private corporations or other persons for use in making loans
under the urban farm microenterprise support program.
Sec. 44A.005. URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND.
The urban farm microenterprise development fund is a fund in the
comptroller's office. The following shall be deposited to the
credit of the fund:
(1) amounts received by the state for loans made under
the urban farm microenterprise support program;
(2) money received in repayment of loans made under
the program; and
(3) other money received by the board for the program
and required by the board to be deposited in the fund.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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