SRC-CTC S.B. 1296 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1296 By: Lucio Business & Commerce 6/5/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, unscrupulous development and substandard housing conditions along the Texas-Mexico border are prohibited by state law. However, many neighborhoods, known as colonias, were built in this region prior to 1989 when legislative reform began. Since little is available or affordable to the residents of these colonias, many Texas residents continue to live in neighborhoods without basic services. S.B. 1296 authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to aid counties in roadway improvement projects to serve colonias. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 9G, Government Code, by adding Chapter 1403, as follows: CHAPTER 1403. GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR CERTAIN BORDER COLONIA PROJECTS Sec. 1403.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "authority" and "commission." Sec. 1403.002. GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES FOR BORDER COLONIA ROADWAY PROJECTS. (a) Requires the Texas Public Finance Authority (authority), as provided by Section 49-1, Article III, Texas Constitution, and in accordance with requests from the office of the governor, to take certain actions relating to the issuance of general obligation bonds and notes and the distribution of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds and notes. (b) Requires the office of the governor to determine the amount of bonds to be issued at any one time by the authority under Subsection (a)(1) and the times at which the bonds are issued. (c) Requires the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) to establish a program to administer the use of the proceeds of the bonds and notes. Requires the Texas Department of Transportation to administer the program in cooperation with the office of the governor, the secretary of state, and the Texas A&M University Center for Housing and Urban Development. (d) Requires the commission, in cooperation with the office of the governor, to take certain actions. (e) Requires the issuance of general obligation bonds under this chapter to comply with and subject to Subtitle A, of this title, Chapter 1231, and applicable provisions of Chapters 1232 and 1371. (f) Authorizes the authority, in connection with bonds or notes issued under this section, to enter into one or more credit agreements at any time for a period and on conditions the authority approves. Defines "credit agreement." SECTION 2. Provides that this Act takes effect on the date on which the constitutional amendment proposed by the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, authorizing the issuance of state general obligation bonds to provide assistance to counties for roadway projects to serve border colonias takes effect. Provides that this Act has no effect if that amendment is not approved by the voters.