87S30332 MP-D
By: Davis H.B. No. 127
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program in the Parks and Wildlife Department for
outreach to certain underserved populations; making an
appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 13.024 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.024. GRANT PROGRAM FOR OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Nonprofit partner" has the meaning assigned by
Section 11.201.
(2) "Underserved population" means any group of people
who are:
(A) low income, inner city, or rural as
determined by the last census;
(B) minority;
(C) youth, including youth at risk and youth with
a physical, developmental, or intellectual disability or mental
illness; or
(D) female.
(b) The department shall develop and administer a grant
program for outreach to underserved populations to provide money to
municipalities, counties, and nonprofit partners for use to
increase:
(1) access to and use of the department's parks,
recreational areas, cultural resource sites and areas, and open
space areas by underserved populations; and
(2) participation of underserved populations in the
outdoor, historical, cultural, and recreation safety activities of
the department.
(c) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this
section.
(d) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer the grant program established under this section,
including rules regarding:
(1) the form and content of an application for a grant;
(2) grant eligibility requirements; and
(3) permitted uses of grants.
SECTION 2. (a) The amount of $180,000,000 is appropriated
from the general revenue fund to the Parks and Wildlife Department
for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2021, for the
purpose of funding the grant program for outreach to underserved
populations established under Section 13.024, Parks and Wildlife
Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The unexpended balance of the money appropriated by
Subsection (a) of this section is appropriated for the same purpose
for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2022.
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.