POWERS AND DUTIES

(a) The office shall: (1) assist rural communities in the key areas of economic development, community development, rural health, and rural housing; (2) serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources on all state and federal programs affecting rural communities; (3) in consultation with rural community leaders, locally elected officials, state elected and appointed officials, academic and industry experts, and the interagency work group created under this chapter, identify and prioritize policy issues and concerns affecting rural communities in the state; (4) make recommendations to the legislature to address the concerns affecting rural communities identified under Subdivision (3); (5) monitor developments that have a substantial effect on rural Texas communities, especially actions of state government; (6) administer the federal community development block grant nonentitlement program; (7) administer programs supporting rural health care as provided by this chapter; (8) perform research to determine the most beneficial and cost-effective ways to improve the welfare of rural communities; (9) ensure that the office qualifies as the state's office of rural health for the purpose of receiving grants from the Office of Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. Section 254r; (10) manage the state's Medicare rural hospital flexibility program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395i-4; (11) seek state and federal money available for economic development in rural areas for programs under this chapter; (12) in conjunction with other offices and divisions of the department, regularly cross-train office employees with other employees of the department regarding the programs administered and services provided to rural communities; and (13) work with interested persons to assist volunteer fire departments and emergency services districts in rural areas. (b) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4, Sec. 62.11(2), eff. September 28, 2011.