SECTION 1. Sections
12.040(d), (g), and (i), Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d) To be eligible to be a
Texas certified retirement community, a community shall:
(1) through a board or panel
that serves as the community's official program sponsor:
(A) complete a retiree
desirability assessment, as developed by the department, to include facts
regarding crime statistics, tax information, recreational opportunities,
housing availability, and other appropriate factors, including criteria
listed in Subsection (e); and
(B) work to gain the support
of churches, clubs, businesses, media, and other entities, as necessary for
the success of the program in the community;
(2) identify emergency
medical services and a hospital within a 75-mile radius of the community;
and
(3) submit to the department:
(A) a membership [an application] fee
in an amount equal to the greater of:
(i) $5,000; or
(ii) $0.25 multiplied by the
population of the community, as determined by the most recent census;
(B) a marketing plan
detailing the mission as applied to the community, the target market, the
competition, an analysis of the community's strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and dangers, and the strategies the community will employ to
attain the goals of the program; and
(C) a long-term plan
outlining the steps the community will undertake to maintain its
desirability as a destination for retirees, including an outline of plans
to correct any facility and service deficiencies identified in the retiree
desirability assessment required by Subdivision (1)(A).
(g) If the department finds
that a community successfully meets the requirements of a Texas certified
retirement community, not later than the 90th day after the application is approved
[submitted], the department shall provide [the following]
assistance in the manner provided by rule to the community to
help attract retirees and tourists and improve the community's desirability
as a home for retirees[:
[(1) assistance in the
training of local staff and volunteers;
[(2) ongoing oversight and
guidance in marketing, plus updates on retirement trends;
[(3) inclusion in the
state's national advertising and public relations campaigns and travel show
promotions, including a prominent feature on the department's Internet
website, to be coordinated with the Internet websites of other agencies, as
appropriate;
[(4) eligibility for state
financial assistance for brochures, support material, and advertising; and
[(5) an evaluation and
progress assessment on maintaining and improving the community's
desirability as a home for retirees].
(i) The Texas certified
retirement community program account is an account in the general revenue
fund. The account is composed of fees collected under Subsection (d). Money
in the account may be appropriated to the department only for the purposes
of this section, including the payment of administrative and personnel
costs of the department associated with administering the program. The
account is exempt from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.
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SECTION 1. Sections
12.040(d), (g), and (i), Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d) To be eligible to be a
Texas certified retirement community, a community shall:
(1) through a board or panel
that serves as the community's official program sponsor:
(A) complete a retiree
desirability assessment, as developed by the department, to include facts
regarding crime statistics, tax information, recreational opportunities,
housing availability, and other appropriate factors, including criteria
listed in Subsection (e); and
(B) work to gain the support
of churches, clubs, businesses, media, and other entities, as necessary for
the success of the program in the community;
(2) identify emergency
medical services and a hospital within a 75-mile radius of the community;
and
(3) submit to the department:
(A) a [an
application] fee in an amount equal to the greater of:
(i) $5,000; or
(ii) $0.25 multiplied by the
population of the community, as determined by the most recent census;
(B) a marketing plan
detailing the mission as applied to the community, the target market, the
competition, an analysis of the community's strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and dangers, and the strategies the community will employ to
attain the goals of the program; and
(C) a long-term plan
outlining the steps the community will undertake to maintain its
desirability as a destination for retirees, including an outline of plans
to correct any facility and service deficiencies identified in the retiree
desirability assessment required by Subdivision (1)(A).
(g) If the department finds
that a community successfully meets the requirements of a Texas certified
retirement community, not later than the 90th day after the application is approved
[submitted], the department shall provide [the following]
assistance in the manner provided by rule to the community to
help attract retirees and tourists and improve the community's desirability
as a home for retirees[:
[(1) assistance in the
training of local staff and volunteers;
[(2) ongoing oversight and
guidance in marketing, plus updates on retirement trends;
[(3) inclusion in the
state's national advertising and public relations campaigns and travel show
promotions, including a prominent feature on the department's Internet
website, to be coordinated with the Internet websites of other agencies, as
appropriate;
[(4) eligibility for state
financial assistance for brochures, support material, and advertising; and
[(5) an evaluation and
progress assessment on maintaining and improving the community's
desirability as a home for retirees].
(i) The Texas certified
retirement community program account is an account in the general revenue
fund. The account is composed of fees collected under Subsection (d). Money
in the account may be appropriated to the department only for the purposes
of this section, including the payment of administrative and personnel
costs of the department associated with administering the program. The
account is exempt from the application of Section 403.095, Government Code.
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