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.