The text as introduced · 704 words
89R14424 CS-D
By: Ashby
H.B. No. 3010
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster
Recovery Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D-1. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM
Sec. 418.081. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Account" means the rural infrastructure disaster
recovery account created under Section 418.086.
(2) "Critical infrastructure" includes:
(A) a road;
(B) a public school;
(C) a hospital or other health care facility;
(D) a water intake structure, water treatment
facility, wastewater treatment plant, or pump station;
(E) utility-scale water or wastewater storage,
treatment, or transmission facilities; and
(F) airport facilities used for the landing,
parking, refueling, shelter, or takeoff of aircraft, maintenance or
servicing of aircraft, aircraft equipment storage, or navigation of
aircraft.
(3) "Disaster area" means an area in this state
declared to be a disaster area by the governor.
(4) "Eligible political subdivision" means a
political subdivision that meets the qualifications prescribed by
Section 418.083.
(5) "Political subdivision," notwithstanding Section
418.004, means a county, municipality, special district, school
district, junior college district, or other political subdivision
of this state.
Sec. 418.082. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY
PROGRAM. (a) The division shall establish and administer a rural
infrastructure disaster recovery program in accordance with this
subchapter to benefit eligible political subdivisions. The program
must be designed to provide financial assistance in the form of
grants to rural communities located in a disaster area for the
purpose of rebuilding and repairing critical infrastructure
damaged by a disaster.
(b) The division may make grants in accordance with this
subchapter using money appropriated to the division for the
purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 418.083. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. A political
subdivision is eligible to apply to the division for a grant under
this subchapter if the political subdivision is:
(1) a county:
(A) that:
(i) has a population of less than 100,000;
(ii) has a gross domestic product of less
than $2 billion;
(iii) has a poverty rate greater than 15
percent; and
(iv) is located wholly or partly in a
disaster area; and
(B) for which the total dollar amount of damages
resulting from the disaster, as shown in an assessment of damages
prepared after the disaster, exceeds the amount equal to 10 percent
of the state and local sales and use taxes collected in the county
during the state fiscal year preceding the year in which the
disaster occurs; or
(2) a political subdivision other than a county that
is wholly or partly located in a county described by Subdivision
(1).
Sec. 418.084. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The division may make a
grant to an eligible political subdivision using money in the
account to assist in the rebuilding or repair of critical
infrastructure located in the eligible political subdivision that
is damaged by a disaster that may reasonably be considered a public
calamity.
(b) The proceeds of a grant made by the division using money
in the account may not be used by the eligible political subdivision
receiving the grant for any purpose other than the purpose
described by Subsection (a).
Sec. 418.085. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) The division
shall establish an application process for a grant under this
subchapter.
(b) At a minimum, an application must include:
(1) a description of the infrastructure repair or
rebuild project for which the applicant is requesting the grant;
(2) an estimate of the total cost of the project; and
(3) any other information the division requests to
determine whether the applicant is an eligible political
subdivision.
Sec. 418.086. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY
ACCOUNT. (a) The rural infrastructure disaster recovery account
is established as an account in the general revenue fund with the
comptroller, to be administered by the division.
(b) Money in the account may be used only to provide a grant
in the manner provided by this subchapter.
(c) The account consists of:
(1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
the account by the legislature;
(2) gifts or grants contributed to the account; and
(3) interest earned on deposits and investments of the
account.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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