HB 981 -- OFFICE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

SPONSOR:  Wiggins

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture by a vote of 22 to 0.

Current law authorizes the Office of Rural Development to
provide grants to qualifying rural communities until June 30,
2000.  This bill extends the grant authority until June 30, 2010.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue fund of $0
in FY 2000, $688,789 in FY 2001, and $691,153 in FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Office of Rural Development
grant program for rural communities has been extremely
successful and needs to be extended.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wiggins; and
Department of Economic Development.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Roland Tackett, Legislative Analyst

HB 981 -- Office of Rural Development Grants

Sponsor:  Wiggins

Current law authorizes the Office of Rural Development to
provide grants to qualifying rural communities until June 30,
2000.  This bill extends the grant authority until June 30, 2010.