83R3468 ATP-D
By: N. Gonzalez of El Paso H.B. No. 1451
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a program encouraging credit unions to make microloans
to victims of domestic violence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Finance Code, is
amended by adding Section 15.104 to read as follows:
Sec. 15.104. MICROLOANS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
(a) In this section, "victim of domestic violence" means a person
who in the preceding two years has been found by a court, as
evidenced by a court order, to have been the victim of domestic
violence.
(b) The department shall establish and administer a program
to encourage credit unions to make microloans to victims of
domestic violence to encourage entrepreneurship by those victims.
(c) In administering the program, the department shall:
(1) initiate partnerships or other collaborative
efforts between credit unions and community-based domestic
violence programs to:
(A) identify potential borrowers who are victims
of domestic violence and refer those potential borrowers to credit
unions that offer microloans; and
(B) provide financial education training to
victims of domestic violence receiving services from the programs;
and
(2) coordinate with credit unions with respect to
materials and resources for the training provided under Subdivision
(1)(B).
(d) The department shall seek gifts, grants, and other
funding sources for the program.
SECTION 2. Section 481.0068, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) The Office of Small Business Assistance shall:
(1) examine the role of small and historically
underutilized businesses in the state's economy and the
contribution of small and historically underutilized businesses in
generating economic activity, expanding employment opportunities,
promoting exports, stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship,
and bringing new and untested products and services to the
marketplace;
(2) serve as the principal focal point in the state for
small and historically underutilized businesses by:
(A) providing to the legislature information on
the effects of proposed policies or actions;
(B) assisting state agencies in determining the
impact proposed rules have on small businesses as required by
Section 2006.002; and
(C) assisting the agencies in reducing the
adverse effect that rules have on small businesses, if appropriate;
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of efforts of state
agencies and other entities to assist small and historically
underutilized businesses and make appropriate recommendations to
the legislature and state agencies to assist the development and
strengthening of small and historically underutilized businesses;
(4) identify regulations that inhibit small and
historically underutilized business development and to the extent
possible identify conflicting state policy goals;
(5) determine the availability of financial and other
resources to small and historically underutilized businesses and
recommend methods for:
(A) increasing the availability of equity
capital and other forms of financial assistance to small and
historically underutilized businesses;
(B) generating markets for the goods and services
of small and historically underutilized businesses;
(C) providing more effective education,
training, and management and technical assistance to small and
historically underutilized businesses; and
(D) providing assistance to small and
historically underutilized businesses in complying with federal,
state, and local laws;
(6) identify the reasons for small and historically
underutilized business successes and failures, ascertain the
related factors that are particularly important in this state, and
recommend actions for increasing the success rate of small and
historically underutilized businesses;
(7) serve as a focal point for receiving comments and
suggestions concerning state government policies and activities
that affect small and historically underutilized businesses;
(8) develop and suggest proposals for changes in state
policies and activities that adversely affect small and
historically underutilized businesses;
(9) provide to state agencies information on the
effects of proposed policies or actions that affect small and
historically underutilized businesses;
(10) provide information and assistance relating to
establishing, operating, or expanding small and historically
underutilized businesses;
(11) assist small and historically underutilized
businesses by:
(A) identifying:
(i) sources of financial assistance for
those businesses; and
(ii) financial barriers to those
businesses;
(B) working with relevant organizations to
identify financing programs that aid small businesses in overcoming
financial barriers;
(C) matching those businesses with sources of
financial assistance and credit enhancement; and
(D) assisting those businesses with the
preparation of applications for government loans, loan guarantees,
and credit enhancement programs;
(12) sponsor meetings, to the extent practicable in
cooperation with public and private educational institutions, to
provide training and disseminate information beneficial to small
and historically underutilized businesses;
(13) assist small and historically underutilized
businesses in their dealings with federal, state, and local
governmental agencies and provide information regarding
governmental requirements affecting small and historically
underutilized businesses;
(14) perform research, studies, and analyses of
matters affecting the interests of small and historically
underutilized businesses;
(15) use available resources within the state, such as
small business development centers, educational institutions, and
nonprofit associations, to coordinate the provision of management
and technical assistance to small and historically underutilized
businesses in a systematic manner;
(16) publish newsletters, brochures, and other
documents containing information useful to small and historically
underutilized businesses;
(17) identify successful small and historically
underutilized business assistance programs provided by other
states and determine the feasibility of adapting those programs for
implementation in this state;
(18) establish an outreach program to make the
existence of the office known to small and historically
underutilized businesses and potential clients throughout the
state;
(19) enlist the cooperation and assistance of public
and private agencies, businesses, and other organizations in
disseminating information about the programs and services provided
by the state that benefit small businesses and how small businesses
can participate in or make use of those programs and services;
(20) defer to the small business compliance assistance
program as defined by Section 5.135, Water Code, on advocacy and
technical assistance related to environmental programs that
regulate small businesses;
(21) develop a "one-stop" approach for all small
business needs, including competitive activity with state agencies
and political subdivisions; [and]
(22) perform any other functions necessary to carry
out the purposes of this section; and
(23) collaborate with community-based domestic
violence programs to provide information and assistance to victims
of domestic violence receiving services from the program who are
interested in establishing a small business, including any
assistance available through the federal Small Business
Administration.
(c) In this section, "victim of domestic violence" means a
person who in the preceding two years has been found by a court, as
evidenced by a court order, to have been the victim of domestic
violence.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.