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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to community assistance and economic development program |
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activities of the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Acts of the 50th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 1947, is amended by adding Section 11 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 11. (a) In this section, "economic development |
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program" includes a program designed to: |
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(1) encourage economic diversification; |
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(2) contribute to the health and development of a |
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community to improve the attractiveness of the community to public |
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and private enterprises; or |
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(3) improve the quality or quantity of services |
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essential for the development of viable communities and economic |
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growth, including services related to education, transportation, |
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public safety, recreation, health care, training, community |
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planning, or employment. |
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(b) The District may sponsor and participate in an economic |
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development program intended to strengthen the economic base and |
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further the economic development of this state. A determination by |
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the Board of Directors that an economic development program is |
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intended and expected to accomplish the program's stated purposes |
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is conclusive with respect to whether the program serves the |
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purposes of this section. |
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(c) An economic development program must be within: |
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(1) the territorial boundaries of the District; or |
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(2) the District's water service area. |
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(d) An economic development program may be established only |
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by formal action of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors |
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shall: |
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(1) establish the goals of the program; |
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(2) impose requirements on persons participating in or |
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receiving a benefit from the program; and |
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(3) provide restrictions, procedures, and budget |
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limits the Board of Directors determines are necessary to ensure |
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that the governmental purposes of this section and the program are |
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achieved. |
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(e) An economic development program may involve the |
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granting or lending of money, services, or property to a person |
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engaged in an economic development activity. |
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(f) The District may: |
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(1) employ staff and spend its resources, other than |
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money received from an ad valorem tax or a general appropriation, to |
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further an economic development program; and |
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(2) apply for and receive money, grants, or other |
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assistance from any source to implement an economic development |
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program. |
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(g) The District and any public or private person may enter |
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into an agreement with respect to an economic development program. |
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(h) If the District proposes to provide scholarships, |
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grants, loans, or financial assistance to a public fire-fighting |
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organization, the District shall adopt guidelines for determining: |
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(1) eligibility for the assistance; |
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(2) the amount of any loan, grant, or other assistance |
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the District may provide; and |
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(3) the types of equipment, facilities, education, or |
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training for which the assistance may be used. |
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SECTION 2. The legislature finds that the economic |
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development programs authorized by Section 11, Chapter 186, Acts of |
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the 50th Legislature, Regular Session, 1947, as added by this Act, |
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are a specific public purpose and governmental function of the |
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Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in accordance with: |
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(1) Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution; and |
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(2) Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |