By: Strama H.B. No. 3029
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility of nonborder areas for certain state
assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (i), Section 15.407, Water Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) If, after submission of an application under this
section, a county fails to meet [has an increase in average per
capita income or a decrease in unemployment rate average so that the
county no longer meets] the definition of an affected county in
Section 16.341, the political subdivision that submits the
application continues to be eligible for the funds under this
section, and the board shall process the application for facility
engineering and, if the application is approved, shall provide
funds for the facility engineering plan to the political
subdivision.
SECTION 2. Subdivision (1), Section 16.341, Water Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Affected county" means a county that:
(A) [that] has a per capita income that averaged
25 percent below the state average for the most recent three
consecutive years for which statistics are available and an
unemployment rate that averaged 25 percent above the state average
for the most recent three consecutive years for which statistics
are available; [or]
(B) [that] is adjacent to an international
border; or
(C) is otherwise eligible for financial
assistance under Subchapter K, Chapter 17.
SECTION 3. Section 17.923, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 17.923. COUNTY ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) To be eligible for financial assistance under this subchapter,
a county:
(1) must have a per capita income that averaged 25
percent below the state average for the most recent three
consecutive years for which statistics are available and an
unemployment rate that averaged 25 percent above the state average
for the most recent three consecutive years for which statistics
are available; or
(2) must be located adjacent to an international
border.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the board adopts a
resolution stating that the proceeds of the bonds authorized by
Section 49-d-7(b), Article III, Texas Constitution, have been fully
committed, any county with an economically distressed area is
eligible for financial assistance under this subchapter beginning
on the date the resolution is adopted.
____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, 2003.