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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial assistance administered by the Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs in certain rural areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 2306.004(28-a) and (36), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(28-a) "Rural area" means an area that is located: |
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(A) outside the boundaries of a primary |
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metropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan statistical area; |
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or |
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(B) within the boundaries of a primary |
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metropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan statistical area, |
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if the [statistical] area: |
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(i) has a population of 25,000 or less and |
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does not share a boundary with an urban area; or |
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(ii) is designated by the department as a |
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rural area under Section 2306.0075. |
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(36) "Urban area" means the area that is located |
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within the boundaries of a primary metropolitan statistical area or |
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a metropolitan statistical area other than an area described by |
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Subdivision (28-a)(B) [or eligible for funding as described by
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Subdivision (28-a)(C)]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2306.0075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2306.0075. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN AREAS AS RURAL. (a) |
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This section applies only to an area that: |
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(1) is located within the boundaries of a primary |
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metropolitan statistical area or a metropolitan statistical area; |
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and |
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(2) has a population of 10,000 or less. |
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(b) A statistical area described by Subsection (a) may apply |
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to the department for designation as a rural area under Section |
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2306.004(28-a)(B)(ii) for purposes of receiving financial |
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assistance administered by the department under this chapter. |
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(c) The department shall adopt rules governing the process |
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by which statistical areas are designated as rural areas under this |
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section. The rules must: |
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(1) establish procedures regarding the submission of |
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applications under this section; |
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(2) provide additional eligibility standards for |
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making the designations authorized by this section; and |
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(3) ensure that financial assistance provided to a |
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designated rural area complies with any applicable federal |
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requirements regarding that assistance. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |