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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the small business assistance |
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disaster recovery program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 481, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 481.00682 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 481.00682. OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE |
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DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Declared disaster" means: |
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(A) a disaster declared by the president of the |
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United States; or |
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(B) a state of disaster declared by the governor |
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under Chapter 418. |
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(2) "Program" means the small business assistance |
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disaster recovery program established under this section. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the Office of Small Business |
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Assistance shall establish and administer the small business |
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assistance disaster recovery program to provide small businesses in |
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this state that have been economically affected by a declared |
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disaster with resources and assistance. Resources and assistance |
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provided to small businesses under the program may include: |
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(1) information regarding or assistance securing |
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state and federal funding; |
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(2) technical or financial opportunities available to |
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the small business; |
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(3) information regarding regulations applicable to |
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the small business; and |
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(4) general information and resources related to: |
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(A) taxes and accounting; |
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(B) loan refinancing; |
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(C) basic bankruptcy procedures; |
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(D) restructuring; and |
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(E) debt protection and forgiveness options. |
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(c) The Office of Small Business Assistance may not provide |
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a small business with direct legal or accounting advice under the |
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program but may provide: |
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(1) general resources and information regarding legal |
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or accounting issues faced by small businesses; and |
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(2) referrals to lawyers, accountants, or entities |
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that provide legal or accounting advice to small businesses. |
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(d) To the extent money is available, the Office of Small |
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Business Assistance shall employ not fewer than two employees to |
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administer the program. The Office of Small Business Assistance |
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may only hire a person to administer the program who has been |
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approved by the small business advocate designated under Section |
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481.0067. |
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(e) Information collected from a small business under the |
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program is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under |
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Chapter 552. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Economic Development and Tourism |
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Office is required to implement Section 481.00682, Government Code, |
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as added by this Act, only if the legislature appropriates money |
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specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not |
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appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas Economic |
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Development and Tourism Office may, but is not required to, |
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implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations that |
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are available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |