By Hill, Cuellar, Olivo, Oliveira, Ehrhardt H.B. No. 1982 76R2845 KEL-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the effect of a municipal annexation on a colonia's 1-3 continued eligibility for certain assistance. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 43, Local Government Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 43.905 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 43.905. EFFECT OF ANNEXATION ON COLONIAS. (a) In this 1-8 section, "colonia" means a geographic area: 1-9 (1) that has a majority population composed of 1-10 individuals and families of low income and very low income, as 1-11 defined by Section 2306.004, Government Code, and based on the 1-12 federal Office of Management and Budget poverty index, and that 1-13 meets the qualifications of an economically distressed area under 1-14 Section 17.921, Water Code; or 1-15 (2) that has the physical and economic characteristics 1-16 of a colonia, as determined by the Texas Department of Housing and 1-17 Community Affairs. 1-18 (b) A colonia that is annexed by a municipality remains 1-19 eligible for five years after the effective date of the annexation 1-20 to receive any form of assistance for which the colonia would be 1-21 eligible if the annexation had not occurred. 1-22 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 1-23 to a colonia annexed by a municipality on or after the effective 1-24 date of this Act. A colonia annexed by a municipality before the 2-1 effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the 2-2 colonia was annexed, and the former law is continued in effect for 2-3 that purpose. 2-4 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-5 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.