By: Lucio S.B. No. 1408
(In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2015; March 18, 2015, read
first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Water, and
Rural Affairs; May 7, 2015, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 7, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for
community development in certain municipalities and counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 23 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 23. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR RURAL
AND SMALL COMMUNITIES
Sec. 23.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means
the community development matching grant program established under
this chapter.
Sec. 23.002. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Subject to the availability of federal and state funds, the
department shall create a community development matching grant
program to foster community and economic development in certain
municipalities and counties.
(b) The department shall award matching grants under the
program to assist in the financing of:
(1) trade-related initiatives and programs, as
determined by the commissioner, that will assist farmers, ranchers,
and the equine industry in eligible municipalities or counties to
develop and export their produce, products, and services to
international markets;
(2) community development projects, including basic
infrastructure projects such as water or wastewater facilities and
planning, street improvements, and drainage;
(3) capacity-building projects relating to local
public facility and housing planning activities;
(4) renewable energy projects to help participating
rural communities reduce energy costs for water and wastewater
treatment facilities;
(5) restoration projects for water or wastewater
infrastructure based on urgent need, if the infrastructure poses an
imminent threat to life or health;
(6) economic development projects to create or retain
permanent employment opportunities;
(7) economic development projects to support economic
and management development activities at the county level;
(8) environmental projects that provide assistance to
small communities for solving water or wastewater problems using
self-help methods; and
(9) other community development projects as
determined by the department with the assistance of the Texas Rural
Health and Economic Development Advisory Council.
Sec. 23.003. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. A municipality or county
is eligible for a matching grant under this chapter if the
municipality or county is:
(1) a nonentitlement area, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
Section 5302(a)(7), under the federal community development block
grant nonentitlement program; and
(2) in good standing with the department and with the
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Sec. 23.004. APPLICATIONS. Eligible municipalities or
counties may submit a single-jurisdiction application or a
multi-jurisdiction application for a matching grant under the
program for a community development project. An application must
include a description of the project proposal.
Sec. 23.005. PREFERENCE FOR MULTI-JURISDICTION
APPLICATIONS. (a) In awarding a matching grant under the program,
the department shall give preference to an application submitted
under the program by two or more eligible municipalities or
counties if the application shows that the proposed community
development project will mutually benefit the residents of the
communities applying for the funds.
(b) A multi-jurisdiction application solely for
administrative convenience may not be accepted by the department.
(c) A municipality or county that has submitted a
multi-jurisdiction application may not submit a
single-jurisdiction application for a matching grant for the same
project for which the multi-jurisdiction application was
submitted.
(d) If a matching grant is awarded under this program, one
of the municipalities or counties participating under a
multi-jurisdiction application shall be primarily accountable to
the department for financial compliance and performance
requirements under the program. All municipalities and counties
applying under a multi-jurisdiction application must meet
application threshold requirements.
Sec. 23.006. RULES. (a) The department by rule shall set
criteria for matching grant requirements and participation under
the program.
(b) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
this chapter.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.
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