By Hill                                               H.B. No. 1260
         76R2844 DB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to redefining the term colonia to allow certain areas to
 1-3     qualify for funding programs.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 2306.581(1), Government Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7                 (1)  "Colonia" means a geographic area [located in a
 1-8     county some part of which is within 150 miles of the international
 1-9     border of this state and] that:
1-10                       (A)  has a majority population composed of
1-11     individuals and families of low income and very low income, based
1-12     on the federal Office of Management and Budget poverty index, and
1-13     meets the qualifications of an economically distressed area under
1-14     Section 17.921, Water Code; or
1-15                       (B)  has the physical and economic
1-16     characteristics of a colonia, as determined by the department.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.