By: Miles (Senate Sponsor - Estes) H.B. No. 2994
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2011;
  May 12, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 20, 2011, reported favorably by
  the following vote:  Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 20, 2011, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation, operation, and funding of the urban farm
  microenterprise support program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 44A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 44A.  URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE SUPPORT PROGRAM
         Sec. 44A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of the Texas
  Agricultural Finance Authority.
               (2)  "Microenterprise" means a small business in which
  the owner operates the enterprise.
               (3)  "Urban area" means an area inside the boundaries
  of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
         Sec. 44A.002.  CREATION OF URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE
  SUPPORT PROGRAM. (a)  The board shall create an urban farm
  microenterprise support program to provide financial assistance to
  microenterprises in urban areas that are primarily engaged in:
               (1)  research into processes and technology related to
  agricultural production in an urban setting;
               (2)  the production or development of tools or
  processes for agriculture in a manner suited for an urban setting;
  or
               (3)  agricultural activities in a manner suited for an
  urban setting.
         (b)  No state money may be used for purposes of the program.
         Sec. 44A.003.  URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE SUPPORT PROGRAM
  LOANS. (a)  On the receipt of gifts and grants of money under
  Section 44A.004, the board shall establish and implement a loan
  program supporting established and proposed urban farm
  microenterprises in urban areas by providing loans to expand,
  modernize, or otherwise improve the established microenterprises
  and to begin operation of proposed microenterprises.
         (b)  An applicant applying on behalf of a proposed
  microenterprise may receive a loan of up to $25,000 to begin
  operation of the microenterprise.
         (c)  An applicant applying on behalf of an established
  microenterprise may receive a loan of up to $50,000 to expand,
  modernize, or otherwise improve an established microenterprise.
         (d)  The board may reserve a portion of the total fund for use
  in cooperative loan programs established with the participation of
  other public or private lenders.
         (e)  The board by rule may provide for the administration by
  a private or public entity of the loans awarded under the loan
  program.
         Sec. 44A.004.  MONEY FOR LOANS. The board may accept gifts
  and grants of money from the federal government, local governments,
  or private corporations or other persons for use in making loans
  under the urban farm microenterprise support program.
         Sec. 44A.005.  URBAN FARM MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND.
  The urban farm microenterprise development fund is a fund in the
  comptroller's office.  The following shall be deposited to the
  credit of the fund:
               (1)  amounts received by the state for loans made under
  the urban farm microenterprise support program;
               (2)  money received in repayment of loans made under
  the program; and
               (3)  other money received by the board for the program
  and required by the board to be deposited in the fund.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
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