By:  Truan                                             S.B. No. 380

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to certain projects and programs for residents of a

 1-2     colonia.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 40.066 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 40.066.  ACCOUNT FOR PROVISION OF SERVICES TO RESIDENTS

 1-7     OF COLONIA.  (a)  Of the federal money received by the state for

 1-8     community-based services under programs operated by the Department

 1-9     of Protective and Regulatory Services, $500,000 each fiscal year

1-10     shall be used by the department for community-based colonias

1-11     services as specified.

1-12           (b)  Money identified in Subsection (a) may be used only to

1-13     provide community-based services that are eligible for

1-14     reimbursement from the federal government.

1-15           (c)  The department may contract with Texas A&M University

1-16     for use of these funds in its Colonias Program to provide services

1-17     eligible for federal reimbursement.

1-18           (d)  In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by

1-19     Section 2306.581, Government Code.

1-20           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 481, Government Code, is

1-21     amended by adding Section 481.030 to read as follows:

 2-1           Sec. 481.030.  ACCOUNT FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO ASSIST

 2-2     RESIDENTS OF COLONIA.  (a)  Of the money received by the Department

 2-3     of Commerce under the federal community development block grant

 2-4     program, $600,000 shall be used as specified by this section.

 2-5           (b)  Money identified in subsection (a) may be used only to:

 2-6                 (1)  construct and rehabilitate community resource

 2-7     centers in colonias;

 2-8                 (2)  establish a loan program to assist residents of a

 2-9     colonia who plan to start or expand small business in a colonia;

2-10                 (3)  provide loan management and business training to

2-11     residents of a colonia; and

2-12                 (4)  provide for administration of these funds.

2-13           (c)  The department, on approval of Texas A&M University, may

2-14     contract with one or more counties to assist residents of colonias

2-15     in the Texas A&M University Colonias Program to provide eligible

2-16     services described by Subsection (b) that are eligible for federal

2-17     reimbursement.

2-18           (d)  In this section "colonia" has the meaning assigned by

2-19     Section 2306.581, Government Code.

2-20           SECTION 3.  Subchapter I, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,

2-21     is amended by adding Section 201.705 to read as follows:

2-22           Sec. 201.705.  FUNDS FOR PROJECTS IN COLONIAS.  (a)  Of the

2-23     federal money received by the state as Transportation Enhancement

2-24     Funds under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991, five

2-25     percent shall be used by the department as specified by this

 3-1     section.

 3-2           (b)  Money specified by Subsection (a) may be used only to

 3-3     assist residents of a colonia in the Texas A&M University Colonias

 3-4     Program and provide services and projects that are eligible for

 3-5     reimbursement from the federal government.

 3-6           (c)  The department may contract with Texas A&M University

 3-7     and, after approved by Texas A&M University, with counties for use

 3-8     of these funds in the Texas A&M University Colonias Program to

 3-9     provide eligible services and projects and to assist colonia

3-10     residents as prescribed by Subsection (a).

3-11           (d)  In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by

3-12     Section 2306.581, Government Code.

3-13           SECTION 4.  Section 24.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

3-14     amended by adding Subsections (d), (e) and (f) to read as follows:

3-15           (d)  The Department of Parks and Wildlife each fiscal year

3-16     shall grant at least $400,000 from the fund to counties in which

3-17     colonias exist to provide one-half of the costs of the development

3-18     of sports or recreational facilities in the colonias.  A county may

3-19     meet the requirements for financial participation by the use of

3-20     in-kind or cash contributions.

3-21           (e)  The department shall consult with Texas A&M University

3-22     Colonias Program for the use of these funds to provide eligible

3-23     services and projects to assist colonia residents as prescribed by

3-24     Subsection (d).

3-25           (f)  In this section, "colonia" has the meaning assigned by

 4-1     Section 2306.581, Government Code.

 4-2           SECTION 5.  (a)  As soon as possible after the effective date

 4-3     of this Section of this Act, the funds specified under Section

 4-4     201.705, Transportation Code, that have been allocated by the Texas

 4-5     Department of Transportation for projects financed under the

 4-6     Transportation Enhancement Fund of the Intermodal Surface

 4-7     Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 that have been withdrawn from

 4-8     previously funded projects shall be used as specified by Section

 4-9     201.705.

4-10           SECTION 6.  Sections (1) through (4) of this Act take effect

4-11     September 1, 1997.

4-12           SECTION 7.  The importance of this legislation and the

4-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

4-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

4-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

4-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.