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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for rural |
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economic development. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 487, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter S to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER S. RURAL AREA REGIONAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION |
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MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 487.851. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Program" means the rural area regional planning |
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and implementation matching grant program established under this |
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subchapter. |
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(2) "Rural area" means an area that is predominantly |
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rural in character as defined by the office. |
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Sec. 487.852. RURAL AREA REGIONAL PLANNING AND |
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IMPLEMENTATION MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The office shall |
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create the rural area regional planning and implementation matching |
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grant program to foster regional collaboration for community and |
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economic development in rural areas. |
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(b) The office may award matching grants for the planning |
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and implementation of regionally identified objectives in a rural |
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area. |
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Sec. 487.853. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. (a) To be awarded a |
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matching grant under the program for a proposed project, an |
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application, including a description of the project proposal, must |
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be jointly submitted by two or more of the following entities in the |
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form prescribed by the office: |
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(1) a municipality; |
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(2) a county; |
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(3) an economic development corporation; |
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(4) a community foundation; |
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(5) a faith-based organization; |
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(6) a hospital or clinic; |
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(7) an institution of higher education, as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code; or |
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(8) a commission, as defined by Section 391.002, Local |
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Government Code. |
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(b) Entities that jointly submit an application under |
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Subsection (a) must be physically located in at least: |
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(1) two or more adjacent rural counties; or |
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(2) two or more municipalities or census-designated |
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places in a rural county. |
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Sec. 487.854. GRANT AWARDS. The office shall give |
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preference to eligible applicants that demonstrate an inclusive |
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planning and implementation process over other eligible applicants |
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for an award of a matching grant under the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |