85R13361 BEF-F
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 2136
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a matching grant program for
  community development in certain municipalities and counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 23 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 23. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR RURAL
  AND SMALL COMMUNITIES
         Sec. 23.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means
  the community development matching grant program established under
  this chapter.
         Sec. 23.002.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.
  (a) Subject to the availability of federal and state funds, the
  department shall create a community development matching grant
  program to foster community and economic development in certain
  municipalities and counties.
         (b)  The department shall award matching grants under the
  program to assist in the financing of:
               (1)  trade-related initiatives and programs, as
  determined by the commissioner, that will assist farmers, ranchers,
  and the equine industry in eligible municipalities or counties to
  develop and export their produce, products, and services to
  international markets;
               (2)  community development projects, including basic
  infrastructure projects such as water or wastewater facilities and
  planning, street improvements, and drainage;
               (3)  capacity-building projects relating to local
  public facility and housing planning activities;
               (4)  renewable energy projects to help participating
  rural communities reduce energy costs for water and wastewater
  treatment facilities;
               (5)  restoration projects for water or wastewater
  infrastructure based on urgent need, if the infrastructure poses an
  imminent threat to life or health;
               (6)  economic development projects to create or retain
  permanent employment opportunities;
               (7)  economic development projects to support economic
  and management development activities at the county level;
               (8)  environmental projects that provide assistance to
  small communities for solving water or wastewater problems using
  self-help methods; and
               (9)  other community development projects as
  determined by the department with the assistance of the Texas Rural
  Health and Economic Development Advisory Council.
         Sec. 23.003.  ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. A municipality or county is
  eligible for a matching grant under this chapter if the
  municipality or county is:
               (1)  a nonentitlement area, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
  Section 5302(a)(7), under the federal community development block
  grant nonentitlement program; and
               (2)  in good standing with the department and with the
  United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
         Sec. 23.004.  APPLICATIONS. Eligible municipalities or
  counties may submit a single-jurisdiction application or a
  multi-jurisdiction application for a matching grant under the
  program for a community development project. An application must
  include a description of the project proposal.
         Sec. 23.005.  PREFERENCE FOR MULTI-JURISDICTION
  APPLICATIONS. (a) In awarding a matching grant under the program,
  the department shall give preference to an application submitted
  under the program by two or more eligible municipalities or
  counties if the application shows that the proposed community
  development project will mutually benefit the residents of the
  communities applying for the funds.
         (b)  A multi-jurisdiction application solely for
  administrative convenience may not be accepted by the department.
         (c)  A municipality or county that has submitted a
  multi-jurisdiction application may not submit a
  single-jurisdiction application for a matching grant for the same
  project for which the multi-jurisdiction application was
  submitted.
         (d)  If a matching grant is awarded under this program, one
  of the municipalities or counties participating under a
  multi-jurisdiction application shall be primarily accountable to
  the department for financial compliance and performance
  requirements under the program. All municipalities and counties
  applying under a multi-jurisdiction application must meet
  application threshold requirements.
         Sec. 23.006.  RULES.  (a) The department by rule shall set
  criteria for matching grant requirements and participation under
  the program.
         (b)  The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  this chapter.
         Sec. 23.007.  EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September 1,
  2023.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2017.