Hurricane Grant Bill Lets Retrofit Money Run Through Nonprofits

The text as introduced · 723 words

89R5278 DNC-D

By: Parker
S.B. No. 2924

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program for hurricane and windstorm loss

mitigation for single-family residential property.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 10, Insurance Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 1813 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 1813. GRANT PROGRAM FOR HURRICANE AND WINDSTORM LOSS

MITIGATION FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Sec. 1813.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program"

means the hurricane and windstorm loss prevention grant program

established under this chapter.

Sec. 1813.002. CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This chapter does

not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the state

to fund the inspection or retrofitting of residential property in

this state.

Sec. 1813.003. RULEMAKING. The commissioner may adopt

rules necessary to implement this chapter.

Sec. 1813.004. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. The commissioner

shall establish the hurricane and windstorm loss prevention grant

program to provide grants to retrofit eligible residential property

to resist hurricane and windstorm losses.

Sec. 1813.005. ELIGIBILITY. An owner of residential

property may apply for a grant under the program if:

(1) the property to be retrofitted is:

(A) a single-family home or HUD-code

manufactured home, as defined by Section 1201.003, Occupations

Code; and

(B) the owner's residence homestead, as defined

by Section 11.13, Tax Code; and

(2) the owner and the property meet other eligibility

requirements for the program prescribed by commissioner rule.

Sec. 1813.006. AWARD OF GRANTS. The commissioner may award

grants under the program to eligible applicants to ensure the state

purpose of protecting public safety during a hurricane or windstorm

is achieved. The commissioner may only award a grant under a

contract between the department and a grant recipient that includes

provisions under which the department is given sufficient control

to ensure the state purpose is accomplished and the state receives

the return benefit.

Sec. 1813.007. USE OF GRANT. (a) A grant under the program

must be used to retrofit the property that is the subject of the

grant to one of the following:

(1) the fortified home hurricane standard or fortified

home high wind and hail standard adopted by the Institute for

Business and Home Safety; or

(2) another mitigation program, construction

technique, or standardized code that may be submitted by an insurer

and approved by the commissioner.

(b) A property that is a HUD-code manufactured home, as

defined by Section 1201.003, Occupations Code, in wind zone III as

designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban

Development must be retrofitted to the fortified home hurricane

manufactured/modular home guidelines adopted by the Institute for

Business and Home Safety.

Sec. 1813.008. PERMITTING AND INSPECTIONS. (a) The

recipient of a grant under this chapter shall secure all required

local permits and inspections for a retrofitting project to be

performed using the grant and ensure that the project is performed

in accordance with local building codes.

(b) The department or a political subdivision in which

property for which a grant is awarded is located may inspect the

property at any time during the progress of or following completion

of the retrofitting project for compliance with laws applicable to

the project.

Sec. 1813.009. HURRICANE AND WINDSTORM MITIGATION ACCOUNT.

(a) The hurricane and windstorm mitigation account is a dedicated

account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be

appropriated only to the department and only for the purpose of

implementing the program.

(b) The account is composed of:

(1) gifts, grants, donations, and legislative

appropriations; and

(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the

account.

(c) Section 403.0956, Government Code, does not apply to the

account.

(d) The department administers the account. The department

may solicit and receive gifts, grants, and donations from any

source for the benefit of the account.

Sec. 1813.010. NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION. (a) The

commissioner may make grants or funding available through the

program to a nonprofit organization for use by the organization to

retrofit eligible property in the manner required by this chapter.

(b) A nonprofit organization that received a grant or

funding under this section must administer the grant or funding in

the same manner as the program is required to administer grants or

funding. The organization shall provide any documentation

requested by the department in a timely manner.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.