By Oliveira H.B. No. 2252
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain projects and programs for residents of a
1-3 colonia.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
1-6 is amended by adding Section 40.066 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 40.066. ACCOUNT FOR PROVISION OF SERVICES TO RESIDENTS
1-8 OF COLONIA. (a) Of the federal money received by the state for
1-9 community-based services under programs operated by the Department
1-10 of Protective and Regulatory Services, $500,000 each fiscal year
1-11 shall be used by the department for community-based colonias
1-12 services as specified.
1-13 (b) Money identified in Subsection (a) may be used only to
1-14 provide community-based services that are eligible for
1-15 reimbursement from the federal government.
1-16 (c) The department may contract with Texas A&M University
1-17 for use of these funds in its colonias program to provide services
1-18 eligible for federal reimbursement.
1-19 (d) In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by
1-20 Section 2306.581, Government Code.
1-21 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
1-22 amended by adding Section 481.030 to read as follows:
1-23 Sec. 481.030. ACCOUNT FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO ASSIST
1-24 RESIDENTS OF COLONIA. (a) Of the money received by the Department
2-1 of Commerce under the federal community development block grant
2-2 program, $600,000 shall be used as specified by this section.
2-3 (b) Money identified in Subsection (a) may be used only to:
2-4 (1) construct and rehabilitate community resource
2-5 centers in colonias;
2-6 (2) establish a loan program to assist residents of a
2-7 colonia who plan to start or expand a small business in a colonia;
2-8 (3) provide loan management and business training to
2-9 residents of a colonia; and
2-10 (4) provide for administration of these funds.
2-11 (c) The department, on approval of Texas A&M University, may
2-12 contract with one or more counties to assist residents of colonias
2-13 in the Texas A&M University Colonias Program to provide eligible
2-14 services described by Subsection (b)(1) that are eligible for
2-15 federal reimbursement. The department may contract with the Texas
2-16 A&M University Colonias Program and a colonia center at The
2-17 University of Texas-Pan American to provide eligible services
2-18 described by Subsections (b)(2), (b)(3), and (b)(4) that are
2-19 eligible for federal reimbursement.
2-20 (d) In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by
2-21 Section 2306.581, Government Code.
2-22 SECTION 3. Section 24.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
2-23 amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
2-24 (d) The Parks and Wildlife Department each fiscal year shall
2-25 grant at least $400,000 from the fund to counties in which colonias
2-26 exist to provide one-half of the costs of the development of sports
2-27 or recreational facilities in the colonias. A county may meet the
3-1 requirements for financial participation by the use of in-kind or
3-2 cash contributions.
3-3 (e) The department shall consult with the Texas A&M
3-4 University Colonias Program for the use of these funds to provide
3-5 eligible services and projects to assist colonia residents as
3-6 prescribed by Subsection (d).
3-7 (f) In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by
3-8 Section 2306.581, Government Code.
3-9 SECTION 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this Act take effect
3-10 September 1, 1997.
3-11 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.