By Ramsay                                             H.B. No. 2868
         77R7665 JMG-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to grants for certain counties to provide certain
 1-3     essential services.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Local Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
 1-7          SUBCHAPTER B. GRANTS FOR ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
 1-8           Sec. 130.021.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 1-9                 (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing
1-10     and Community Affairs.
1-11                 (2)  "Essential governmental service" means a law
1-12     enforcement service, including the provision of a jail or court,
1-13     the provision or maintenance of a public building, or the provision
1-14     of public recordkeeping.
1-15           Sec. 130.022.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only to
1-16     a county that has levied the maximum state tax set out in Section
1-17     9(a), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, for the two-year period
1-18     preceding any distribution of funds under this subchapter.
1-19           Sec. 130.023.  DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. The department may
1-20     distribute funds appropriated by the legislature and designated for
1-21     distribution under this subchapter to reimburse a county for
1-22     expenses incurred in the provision of an essential governmental
1-23     service during the preceding fiscal year of the county.
1-24           Sec. 130.024.  REGULATION OF DISTRIBUTION. The department
 2-1     shall adopt regulations for the equitable distribution of funds
 2-2     under this subchapter and for ensuring that the funds are used as
 2-3     provided by Section 130.023.
 2-4           Sec. 130.025.  AUDIT. All funds distributed under this
 2-5     subchapter are subject to audit by the state auditor.
 2-6           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.