By:  Keffer of Eastland, Christian                                H.B. No. 649
 
    (Senate Sponsor - Estes)                                                 
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2003; 
May 8, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 23, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)

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.
* * * * *