By:  Garza, Guillen                                               H.B. No. 3420



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a set-aside for certain colonia access roadway projects 
proposed by rural border counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 1403, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Section 1403.003 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1403.003.  SET-ASIDE FOR COLONIAS LOCATED IN RURAL 
BORDER COUNTIES.  (a)  In this section:
		(1)  "Border colonia" means a border colonia as defined 
by commission rule under Section 1403.002.
		(2)  "Rural border county" means a county that:                        
			(A)  has a population of less than 55,000; and                        
			(B)  is adjacent to an international border.                          
		(3)  "Set-aside" means a reservation of a portion of 
the proceeds from the sale of general obligation bonds and notes 
under this chapter to provide financial assistance for specific 
colonia access roadway projects proposed by rural border counties.
	(b)  The authority shall set aside an amount equal to 10 
percent of the proceeds from each sale of general obligation bonds 
and notes under this chapter to provide financial assistance for 
colonia access roadway projects designed to pave roads serving 
border colonias located in rural border counties.
	(c)  The authority, as directed by the Texas Department of 
Transportation, shall provide a grant from the set-aside on a 
priority basis to a rural border county that proposes to pave for 
the first time a road serving a border colonia located in that 
county.  The grant may include funds to construct or improve water 
or wastewater facilities concurrently with that road paving.
	(d)  A grant under this section may be used by a rural border 
county to purchase any materials or equipment reasonably necessary 
to accomplish the goal of the project.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to 
proceeds from the sale of general obligation bonds and notes that 
are distributed under Chapter 1403, Government Code, as amended by 
this Act, on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.