Sec. 17.933.  TERMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.  (a)  The board may use money in the economically distressed areas account to provide financial assistance to a political subdivision in the form of a loan, a loan with zero interest, a grant, or other type of financial assistance to be determined by the board taking into consideration the information provided by Section 17.927(b)(7) and the political subdivision's ability to repay the financial assistance.
(b)  In providing financial assistance to an applicant under this subchapter, the board may not provide to the applicant financial assistance for which repayment is not required in an amount that exceeds 50 percent of the total amount of the financial assistance, unless the board or the Department of State Health Services determines that a nuisance dangerous to the public health and safety exists resulting from water supply and sanitation problems in the area to be served by the proposed project.  The board may provide the repayable portion of financial assistance from any financial assistance program for which the applicant is eligible.  The applicant shall provide to the board or the Department of State Health Services information necessary to make a determination, and the board and the Department of State Health Services may enter into necessary memoranda of understanding to carry out this subsection.
(b-1)  Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1222 (S.B. 2452), Sec. 10, eff. November 5, 2019.
(c)  The total amount of financial assistance provided by the board to political subdivisions under this subchapter from state-issued bonds for which repayment is not required may not exceed at any time 70 percent of the total principal amount of issued and unissued bonds authorized under Article III of the Texas Constitution, for purposes of this subchapter plus outstanding interest on those bonds.
(d)  In determining the amount and form of financial assistance and the amount and form of repayment, if any, the board shall establish repayment based on the political subdivision's ability to repay the financial assistance and shall consider:
(1)  rates, fees, and charges that the average customer to be served by the project will be able to pay;
(2)  sources of funding available to the political subdivision from federal and private funds and from other state funds;
(3)  any local funds of the political subdivision to be served by the project if the economically distressed area to be served by the board's financial assistance is within the boundary of the political subdivision;
(4)  the just, fair, and reasonable charges for water and wastewater service as provided in this code; and
(5)  the ability of the board to maximize the portion of financial assistance for which repayment is required based on the political subdivision's ability to repay the assistance, as provided by board rule.
(e)  In making its determination under Subsection (d)(1) of this section, the board may consider any study, survey, data, criteria, or standard developed or prepared by any federal, state, or local agency, private foundation, banking or financial institution, or other reliable source of statistical or financial data or information.
(f)  The board may provide financial assistance money under this subchapter for treatment works as defined by Section 17.001 of this code only if the board determines that it is not feasible in the area covered by the application to use septic tanks as the method for providing sewer services under the applicant's plan.
(g)  Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 927, Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2005.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 624, Sec. 2.21.  Renumbered from Sec. 17.893 by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 2(36), eff. Sept. 6, 1990.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 422, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 844, Sec. 9, eff. Aug. 30, 1993;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.291, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 21, eff. June 16, 1995;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, Sec. 41, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 74, Sec. 1, eff. May 16, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 927 (H.B. 467), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 927 (H.B. 467), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1222 (S.B. 2452), Sec. 8, eff. November 5, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1222 (S.B. 2452), Sec. 10, eff. November 5, 2019.