Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB580 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Hegar S.B. No. 580
2	2	(Morrison)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to community assistance and economic development program
8	8	activities of the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Acts of the 50th Legislature,
11	11	Regular Session, 1947, is amended by adding Section 11 to read as
12	12	follows:
13	13	Sec. 11. (a) In this section, "economic development
14	14	program" includes a program designed to:
15	15	(1) encourage economic diversification;
16	16	(2) contribute to the health and development of a
17	17	community to improve the attractiveness of the community to public
18	18	and private enterprises; or
19	19	(3) improve the quality or quantity of services
20	20	essential for the development of viable communities and economic
21	21	growth, including services related to education, transportation,
22	22	public safety, recreation, health care, training, community
23	23	planning, or employment.
24	24	(b) The District may sponsor and participate in an economic
25	25	development program intended to strengthen the economic base and
26	26	further the economic development of this state. A determination by
27	27	the Board of Directors that an economic development program is
28	28	intended and expected to accomplish the program's stated purposes
29	29	is conclusive with respect to whether the program serves the
30	30	purposes of this section.
31	31	(c) An economic development program must be within:
32	32	(1) the territorial boundaries of the District; or
33	33	(2) the District's water service area.
34	34	(d) An economic development program may be established only
35	35	by formal action of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
36	36	shall:
37	37	(1) establish the goals of the program;
38	38	(2) impose requirements on persons participating in or
39	39	receiving a benefit from the program; and
40	40	(3) provide restrictions, procedures, and budget
41	41	limits the Board of Directors determines are necessary to ensure
42	42	that the governmental purposes of this section and the program are
43	43	achieved.
44	44	(e) An economic development program may involve the
45	45	granting or lending of money, services, or property to a person
46	46	engaged in an economic development activity.
47	47	(f) The District may:
48	48	(1) employ staff and spend its resources, other than
49	49	money received from an ad valorem tax or a general appropriation, to
50	50	further an economic development program; and
51	51	(2) apply for and receive money, grants, or other
52	52	assistance from any source to implement an economic development
53	53	program.
54	54	(g) The District and any public or private person may enter
55	55	into an agreement with respect to an economic development program.
56	56	(h) If the District proposes to provide scholarships,
57	57	grants, loans, or financial assistance to a public fire-fighting
58	58	organization, the District shall adopt guidelines for determining:
59	59	(1) eligibility for the assistance;
60	60	(2) the amount of any loan, grant, or other assistance
61	61	the District may provide; and
62	62	(3) the types of equipment, facilities, education, or
63	63	training for which the assistance may be used.
64	64	SECTION 2. The legislature finds that the economic
65	65	development programs authorized by Section 11, Chapter 186, Acts of
66	66	the 50th Legislature, Regular Session, 1947, as added by this Act,
67	67	are a specific public purpose and governmental function of the
68	68	Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in accordance with:
69	69	(1) Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution; and
70	70	(2) Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
71	71	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.