HBA-DMD, NLM H.B. 3682 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3682
By: Gutierrez
Appropriations
10/7/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Legislature, many state programs required communities to
contribute local matching funds in order to take part in those programs or
to qualify for state funding.  There was concern that the ability for some
communities to raise the necessary matching funds may have been restricted
by local economic factors. High employment, low per capita income, and
small tax bases contributed to the inability of some communities to obtain
certain resources and infrastructure. H.B. 3682 authorizes a state agency,
for an economically disadvantaged county or economically disadvantaged
census tract, to adjust any matching funds requirement that is otherwise a
condition for a county to receive a grant or other form of financial
assistance from the agency, with an exception. This bill also requires each
agency to include information, which must include the disposition of each
instance where a waiver or adjustment is requested or considered, about its
use of waivers or adjustments to matching funds requirements in its annual
report. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 783, Government Code, by adding Section 783.009,
as follows: 

Sec. 783.009. MATCHING FUND WAIVER FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COUNTY OR
CENSUS TRACT. (a) Defines "economically disadvantaged county" for the
purposes of this section.  

(b) Defines "economically disadvantaged census tract" in this section.

(c) Authorizes a state agency, for an economically disadvantaged county or
economically disadvantaged census tract, to adjust any matching funds
requirement that is otherwise a condition for a county to receive a grant
or other form of financial assistance from the agency, except as provided
by Subsection (d). 

(d) Provides that this section does not apply to the Texas Transportation
Commission or to waivers or adjustments of matching funds requirements
granted by the Texas Department of Transportation or governed by Section
222.053(a) (Relief From Local Matching Funds Requirement), Transportation
Code.  

(e) Requires each agency to include information, which must include the
disposition of each instance where a waiver or adjustment is requested or
considered, about its use of waivers or adjustments to matching funds
requirements in its annual report. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.