89R21784 CS-D     By: Ashby, Lambert, Darby, Spiller 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;                (3)  documentation that the project does not qualify   for federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management   Agency; and                (4)  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)  The division may use the rural infrastructure disaster   recovery account only for:                (1)  making a grant to an eligible political   subdivision; and                (2)  paying the necessary and reasonable expenses of   administering the grant.          (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.          Sec. 418.087.  RULES.  The division shall adopt rules   necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules   establishing procedures for the application for and award of   grants, distribution of grants, and administration of grants and   the grant program established under this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.