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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program in the Parks and Wildlife Department for |
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outreach to certain underserved populations; making an |
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appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 13.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.024. GRANT PROGRAM FOR OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED |
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POPULATIONS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Nonprofit partner" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 11.201. |
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(2) "Underserved population" means any group of people |
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who are: |
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(A) low income, inner city, or rural as |
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determined by the last census; |
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(B) minority; |
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(C) youth, including youth at risk and youth with |
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a physical, developmental, or intellectual disability or mental |
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illness; or |
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(D) female. |
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(b) The department shall develop and administer a grant |
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program for outreach to underserved populations to provide money to |
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municipalities, counties, and nonprofit partners for use to |
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increase: |
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(1) access to and use of the department's parks, |
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recreational areas, cultural resource sites and areas, and open |
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space areas by underserved populations; and |
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(2) participation of underserved populations in the |
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outdoor, historical, cultural, and recreation safety activities of |
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the department. |
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(c) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this |
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section. |
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(d) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer the grant program established under this section, |
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including rules regarding: |
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(1) the form and content of an application for a grant; |
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(2) grant eligibility requirements; and |
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(3) permitted uses of grants. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The amount of $180,000,000 is appropriated |
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from the general revenue fund to the Parks and Wildlife Department |
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for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2021, for the |
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purpose of funding the grant program for outreach to underserved |
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populations established under Section 13.024, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The unexpended balance of the money appropriated by |
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Subsection (a) of this section is appropriated for the same purpose |
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for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |