The board must use the economically distressed areas account to give financial assistance for water supply and sewer projects, and it must not use that assistance for areas that are not economically distressed areas.
Sec. 17.922. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. (a) The board shall use the economically distressed areas account to provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for the construction, acquisition, or improvement of water supply and sewer services, including providing funds from the account for the state's participation in federal programs that provide assistance solely for projects intended to serve economically distressed areas. (b) To the extent practicable, the board shall use money in the economically distressed areas account in conjunction with the other financial assistance available through the board to encourage the use of cost-effective water supply and wastewater systems, including regional systems, to maximize the long-term economic development of political subdivisions eligible for financial assistance under the economically distressed areas program. Any savings derived from the construction of a regional system that includes or serves an economically distressed area project shall be factored into the board's determination of financial assistance for the economically distressed area in a manner that assures the economically distressed area receives appropriate benefits from the savings. In no event shall financial assistance provided from the economically distressed areas account be used to provide water supply or wastewater service to any area that is not an economically distressed area. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 624, Sec. 2.21. Renumbered from Sec. 17.882 by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 2(36), eff. Sept. 6, 1990. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 844, Sec. 6, eff. Aug. 30, 1993. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 927 (H.B. 467), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1222 (S.B. 2452), Sec. 1, eff. November 5, 2019.