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.