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.  Section 2306.589, Government Code, is amended to

 1-6     read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 2306.589.  COLONIA SET-ASIDE FUND.  (a)  The department

 1-8     shall establish a fund in the department designated as the colonia

 1-9     set-aside fund.

1-10           (b)  The department by rule shall provide that an application

1-11     for assistance in paying for residential service lines, hookups,

1-12     and plumbing improvements associated with being connected to a

1-13     water supply or sewer service system may be submitted after

1-14     construction of a water supply or sewer service system begins.  The

1-15     department shall approve or disapprove a timely application before

1-16     construction of the water supply or sewer service is completed in

1-17     order to eliminate delay in hookups once construction is completed.

1-18     The department and the Texas Water Development Board shall

1-19     coordinate the application process for hookup funds under this

1-20     subsection and under Subchapter L, Chapter 15, Water Code, and

1-21     shall share information elicited by each agency's application

1-22     procedure in order to avoid duplication of effort and to eliminate

1-23     the need for applicants to complete different forms with similar

1-24     information.

 2-1           (c)  The department may use money in the colonia set-aside

 2-2     fund for specific activities that assist colonias, including:

 2-3                 (1)  the operation and activities of the self-help

 2-4     centers established under this subchapter; [or]

 2-5                 (2)  reimbursement of colonia advisory committee

 2-6     members for their reasonable expenses in the manner provided by

 2-7     Article 6252-33, Revised Statutes, or the General Appropriations

 2-8     Act; and

 2-9                 (3)  funding for the provision of water and sewer

2-10     service connections in accordance with Subsection (b).

2-11           (d) [(c)]  The department may review and approve an

2-12     application for funding from the colonia set-aside fund that

2-13     advances the policy and goals of the state in addressing problems

2-14     in the colonias.

2-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2252 was passed by the House on April

         18, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2252 on May 30, 1997, by the

         following vote:  Yeas 107, Nays 33, 1 present, not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2252 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 28, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor