84R2744 DDT-D
By: Hunter H.B. No. 1860
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a grant program to provide money for
security at certain major events; authorizing fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1507 (S.B. 456), Acts of the 76th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1999 (Article 5190.14, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Section 5D to read as
follows:
Sec. 5D. MAJOR EVENTS SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "event" means an event or a related series of events held
in this state. The term includes any activity related to or
associated with the event.
(b) In administering this section, the department may:
(1) enter into and enforce contracts with a county or a
municipality and execute and deliver other instruments necessary to
make and administer grants awarded under this section;
(2) impose and collect reasonable fees and charges in
connection with grants made under this section and provide
reasonable penalties for delinquent payment of fees or charges; and
(3) adopt rules necessary to implement the program.
(c) The department may only use money expressly
appropriated by the legislature to the department for the grant
program established by this section and may only use that money to
make grants authorized by this section for a purpose specified in
Subsection (e)(3) of this section.
(d) A county or municipality that contains a site at which
an eligible event is or may be hosted may apply for and receive a
grant under this section. A grant recipient may use the money
provided through a grant under this section only for providing
security at the event for which the grant is awarded.
(e) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an
event for which a county or municipality is applying must:
(1) be held annually;
(2) have had a total economic impact on the local
economy where the event was previously held of more than $300
million in the immediately preceding year; and
(3) serve a state purpose or a public purpose of the
development and diversification of the economy of this state, the
elimination of unemployment or underemployment in this state, or
the development or expansion of commerce in this state.
(f) The department by rule shall establish an application
process, award process, and eligibility criteria for receiving a
grant under this section. The department shall also establish
criteria for prioritizing applicants for grants under this section
and reporting requirements for grants awarded under this section.
(g) The department shall compile an annual report
identifying the recipient of each grant awarded under this section
each state fiscal year, the amount awarded for each grant, and the
expenses paid through the grant. Each county or municipality that
receives a grant under this section must submit to the department
any information the department requires to compile the report
required under this subsection.
(h) A county or municipality that does not spend grant money
received under this section for security purposes as required by
this section must repay the amount of the grant that was in
noncompliance.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Economic
Development and Tourism Division of the governor's office shall
adopt the rules and eligibility standards required by Section 5D,
Chapter 1507 (S.B. 456), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1999 (Article 5190.14, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
provision.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.