By Lucio                                              S.B. No. 1284
         76R9125 CAG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation and oversight of a colonia ombudsman
 1-3     program in certain economically distressed areas.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.   Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Chapter 775 to read as follows:
 1-7                  CHAPTER 775.  COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM 
 1-8           Sec. 775.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this section:
 1-9                 (1)  "Agency" includes a state office, institution, or
1-10     other state governmental entity.
1-11                 (2)  "Colonia" means a geographic area that:
1-12                       (A)  is an economically distressed area as
1-13     defined by Section 17.921, Water Code; or
1-14                       (B)  is in a county that is eligible for
1-15     assistance under Section 17.923, Water Code.
1-16           Sec. 775.002. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION OF COLONIA
1-17     INITIATIVES.  (a)  The secretary of state shall designate an
1-18     employee to act as the colonia initiatives coordinator.
1-19           (b)  The colonia initiatives coordinator shall:
1-20                 (1)  coordinate colonia initiatives within the
1-21     secretary of state's office, other agencies, and local governments
1-22     involved in colonia projects in the state; and
1-23                 (2)  oversee the work of colonia ombudsmen.
1-24           Sec. 775.003.  COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.  (a)  The colonia
 2-1     initiatives coordinator shall appoint a colonia  ombudsman in each
 2-2     of the six border counties that the coordinator determines have the
 2-3     largest colonia population.
 2-4           (b)  The state and a county that has a colonia ombudsman
 2-5     shall equally divide the cost of operating the colonia ombudsman
 2-6     program in the county.
 2-7           (c)  A colonia ombudsman shall:
 2-8                 (1)  coordinate efforts within the county to address
 2-9     colonia issues;
2-10                 (2)  assist colonia residents and groups with colonia
2-11     issues;
2-12                 (3)  assist any party in resolving easement problems;
2-13                 (4)  assist developers and colonia residents in
2-14     obtaining any necessary water or wastewater connections; and
2-15                 (5)  provide information related to any state or county
2-16     programs affecting a colonia to persons working or living in a
2-17     colonia.
2-18           (d)  A colonia ombudsman shall report monthly to the colonia
2-19     initiatives coordinator on the ombudsman's actions. The ombudsman
2-20     may provide information to other agencies relating to colonia
2-21     issues in the county in which the ombudsman is stationed.
2-22           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-23           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-25     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-26     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-27     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.