SRC-MWN H.B. 829 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 829
By: Hill (Sponsor Unknown)
Natural Resources
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, state programs associated with colonias apply only to
the border region of Texas. However, areas that could be defined as
colonias exist throughout Texas, including areas in Harris and Dallas
counties. H.B. 829 defines "nonborder colonia" to encompass areas in Texas
that are not near the Texas border, and adds nonborder colonias to certain
provisions relating to financial aid for areas lacking water and wastewater
services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

H.B.829 amends the Water and Government codes to define "nonborder
colonia." The bill provides that the Uniform Grant and Contract Management
Act does not apply to a contract relating to an economically distressed
area or nonborder colonia. The bill authorizes the water loan assistance
fund to also be used by the Texas Water Development Board (board) to
provide loans for projects that include supplying water and wastewater
services in nonborder colonias as provided by legislative appropriations,
the provisions of the Texas water assistance program, and board rules. The
bill provides that in passing on an application for financial assistance to
a nonborder colonia from the water loan assistance fund, the board is
required to consider the regulatory efforts by the county in which the
colonia is located to control the construction of subdivisions lacking
basic utilities. The bill authorizes the agency acting as the colonia
initiatives coordinator to work with the other agencies and local officials
involved in colonia projects in the state to coordinate state outreach
efforts to nonborder colonias and to political subdivisions capable of
providing water and wastewater services to nonborder colonias.  

Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.