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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to |
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municipalities and counties that use helicopters to respond to |
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disasters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 140.015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 140.015. DISASTER RESPONSE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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418.004, Government Code. |
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(2) "Grant" means a grant authorized to be awarded by |
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the comptroller under the disaster response assistance grant |
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program established by this section. |
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(b) The comptroller shall establish and administer the |
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disaster response assistance grant program to reimburse |
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municipalities and counties for costs associated with the operation |
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of a helicopter owned by the municipality or county in response to a |
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multi-county disaster. |
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(c) The comptroller shall establish the eligibility |
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requirements for a grant awarded under this section. The |
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requirements must prohibit a municipality or county from recovering |
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an expense for which the municipality or county otherwise has |
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received or will receive funds from the federal government or the |
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state. |
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(d) A municipality or county may not receive more than |
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$750,000 in a calendar year in grants under this section. |
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(e) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules that establish: |
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(1) a standardized application process, including the |
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form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the |
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form; |
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(2) deadlines for: |
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(A) applying for the grant; |
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(B) disbursement of grant money; and |
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(C) spending grant money; and |
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(3) procedures for: |
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(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to |
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ensure compliance with this section; and |
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(B) the return of grant money that was not used by |
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a municipality or county for a purpose authorized by this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than May 1, 2026, the comptroller of |
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public accounts shall establish and administer the disaster |
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response assistance grant program and adopt the rules necessary to |
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implement the program as required by Section 140.015, Local |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |