87R12181 CJC-F
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 3460
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a grant program to provide direct
financial assistance to certain residents of this state who were
affected by the winter disaster of 2021.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Providing Ongoing
Water and Energy Resources (POWER) to Texas Consumers Act.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.0281 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.0281. GRANTS FOR RESPONSE TO WINTER DISASTER OF
2021. (a) In this section:
(1) "Eligible resident" means a resident of this state
who:
(A) is a member of a household that earns not more
than 60 percent of the area median income; or
(B) receives state or federal public benefits.
(2) "Local government" means a municipality or county.
(3) "Qualifying nonprofit" means a nonprofit
organization that provides services to connect persons with
programs operated by local governments, including the grant program
under this section.
(4) "Winter disaster of 2021" means the weather event
that involved snowfall, ice accumulation, and below freezing
temperatures and that occurred in this state between February 14,
2021, and February 20, 2021.
(b) Using money available for the purpose, the comptroller
shall establish and administer a program to provide grants to local
governments which may be used only to provide direct financial
assistance to the local governments' eligible residents who were
affected by the winter disaster of 2021.
(c) The comptroller shall establish:
(1) the formula to be used to distribute the grants to
local governments;
(2) deadlines for the disbursement and spending of
grant money;
(3) a standardized application process to be used by
each local government that receives a grant under this section; and
(4) procedures for:
(A) monitoring the disbursements of grants by
local governments to ensure compliance with this section; and
(B) the return of grant money that was not used by
a local government to provide direct financial assistance.
(d) A local government may:
(1) use grant money awarded under this section only
for the purpose described by Subsection (b);
(2) provide direct financial assistance to an eligible
resident in any amount that is not less than $1,000 or more than
$2,500 if the local government determines that the eligible
resident was affected by the winter disaster of 2021;
(3) prioritize the award of grants to eligible
residents most in need of assistance, as determined by the local
government; and
(4) contract with a qualifying nonprofit to ensure the
local government's eligible residents are made aware of the grant
program.
(e) The comptroller may solicit and accept gifts, grants,
and donations from any source for the purpose of awarding grants
under this section.
(f) The comptroller shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
(g) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. Not later than the 30th day following the
effective date of this Act, the comptroller of public accounts
shall comply with the requirements of Section 403.0281(c),
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. 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, 2021.