BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.S.B. 1509
By: Zaffirini (Cuellar, H.)
May 9, 1995
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND
Currently, more than 1,200 colonias exist along the Texas-Mexico
border. Colonias are substandard, rural subdivisions lacking
adequate water, wastewater, and utility services. People live in
colonias because affordable housing in the cities is not available.
As urban areas expand, local governments are confronted with entire
subdivisions of substandard housing, making it difficult for cities
to annex colonias and provide services.
PURPOSE
As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1509 creates colonia self-help centers to
provide home finance assistance, counseling, a tool library,
instruction, and technical assistance on installation and financing
for septic systems.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2306, Government Code, by adding
Subchapter Z, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Z. COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTERS
Sec. 2306.581. DEFINITION. Defines "colonia," and "community
action agency."
Sec. 2306.582. COLONIA SELF-HELP CENTERS: ESTABLISHMENT. (a)
Requires the Department of Housing and Community Affairs
(department) to establish colonia self-help centers for the
colonias in El Paso, Hidalgo, Starr, and Webb counties and in
Cameron County to serve Cameron and Willacy counties.
Authorizes the department, if the department determines it
necessary, to establish a self-help center in any other county
if the county is designated economically distressed under
Chapter 17, Water Code.
(b) Requires the department to attempt to secure
contributions, services, facilities, or operating support
from the commissioners court of the county in which the
self-help center is located to support the operation of the
center.
Sec. 2306.583. SELF-HELP CENTERS: DESIGNATION. (a)
Requires the department to designate a geographic area for the
services provided by each center and five colonias in each
service area to receive the concentrated attention from that
center.
(b) Authorizes the department to change the designation of
colonias.
Sec. 2306.584. COLONIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Requires the
department to appoint not fewer than five residents of
colonias to serve as an advisory committee for each center.
Requires the members of the advisory committee to be selected
from lists of candidates submitted to the department by local
nonprofit organizations and the commissioners court of a
county that the center serves.
(b) Requires the department to appoint one member to
represent each colonia in each of the counties in which
centers are located. Sets forth criteria the member must
meet.
Sec. 2306.585. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. (a) Requires the
committee to advise the department regarding the needs of the
community and the operation of the center.
(b) Requires the committee to meet at least 30 days prior
to the date a contract is scheduled to be awarded for the
operation of a center and authorizes the committee to meet
at other times.
Sec. 2306.586. SELF-HELP CENTER: PURPOSE AND SERVICES. (a)
Sets forth the purpose of a self-help center.
(b) Requires a center to set a goal to improve the living
conditions of the residents of the colonias within a two-year period after a contract is awarded.
(c) Authorizes a center to serve individuals and families
of low income and very low income by providing various
services.
(d) Prohibits a center from providing grants, financing, or
mortgage loan services to purchase, build, rehabilitate, or
finance construction or improvements to a home in a colonia
if water service and suitable wastewater disposal are not
available.
Sec. 2306.587. OPERATION OF SELF-HELP CENTER. (a) Requires
the department to contract for the operation of a center with
a local nonprofit organization, local community action agency,
or local housing authority that has demonstrated the ability
to carry out the functions of a center.
(b) Authorizes the department and centers to apply for and
receive public or private gifts or grants.
Sec. 2306.588. DEPARTMENT LIAISON TO SELF-HELP CENTERS. (a)
Requires the department to designate appropriate staff in the
department to act as liaison to the centers to assist the
centers in obtaining funding.
(b) Requires the department to make a reasonable effort to
secure an adequate level of funding for various necessary
center activities.
Sec. 2306.589. COLONIA SET-ASIDE FUND. (a) Requires the
department to establish a fund in the department designated as
the colonia set-aside fund.
(b) Authorizes the department to use money in the colonia
set-aside fund for specific activities that assist colonias.
(c) Authorizes the department to review and approve an
application for funding from the colonia set-aside fund that
advances the policy and goals of the state in addressing the
problems in the colonias.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995.
SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute strikes SECTION 2 of the bill regarding allocation
of community development block grant funds by the Texas Department
of Housing and Community Affairs.
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 1509 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on May
8, 1995. A complete substitute was considered by the committee.
The substitute was adopted without objection. The following people
testified in favor of the bill: Rep. Cuellar; and John Henneberger,
representing the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service. The
following people testified on the bill: Parisrice Robinson,
representing the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;
Ruth Cedillo, representing the Texas Community Development Program.
The following people testified against the bill: Judy Langford-Knox, representing Bill Langford Assoc. The bill was reported
favorably as substituted, with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed, by a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 2 pnv, and 2
absent.