78R12832 MCK-D


By:  Keffer of Eastland, Christian                                H.B. No. 649



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating an interagency work group on rural issues.               
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 487.054(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  At least once each year, the following agency heads or 
their designees shall meet in Austin to discuss rural issues and to 
provide information showing the impact each agency has on rural 
communities for use in developing rural policy and compiling the 
annual report under Section 487.051(4):
		(1)  the commissioner of agriculture;                                         
		(2)  the executive director of the Public Utility 
Commission of Texas;      
		(3)  the director of the Texas Agricultural Extension 
Service;              
		(4)  the presiding officer of the Telecommunications 
Infrastructure Fund Board;
		(5)  the executive director of the Texas Department of 
Housing and Community Affairs;
		(6)  the commissioner of health;                                              
		(7)  the executive administrator of the Texas Water 
Development Board;      
		(8)  the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife 
Department;           
		(9)  the commissioner of human services;                                      
		(10)  the commissioner of higher education;                                   
		(11)  the comptroller; [and]                                 
		(12)  the executive director of the Texas Department of 
Transportation;
		(13)  the presiding officer of the Texas Aerospace 
Commission;       
		(14)  the executive director of the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality;
		(15)  the executive director of the Texas Department of 
Economic Development;
		(16)  the commissioner of insurance;                                   
		(17)  the commissioner of mental health and mental 
retardation;      
		(18)  the commissioner of education;                                   
		(19)  the commissioner of health and human services;                   
		(20)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce 
Commission;      
		(21)  the executive director of the Texas Historical 
Commission;     
		(22)  a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas;                    
		(23)  the executive director of the State Soil and 
Water Conservation Board;
		(24)  the executive director of the office; and                        
		(25)  the head of any other agency interested in rural 
issues.       
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 487.0541 to read as follows:
	Sec. 487.0541.  INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP.  (a)  An interagency 
work group is created to:
		(1)  develop a process to allow agencies to work 
together on issues that face rural communities;
		(2)  discuss and coordinate programs and services 
offered to rural communities and residents of rural communities; 
and
		(3)  develop regulatory and legislative 
recommendations that would eliminate duplication and combine 
program services.
	(b)  The work group is composed of a representative from each 
agency listed in or participating under Section 487.054(a) 
appointed by the executive head of the agency.
	(c)  The work group shall meet at the call of the executive 
director of the office.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.