BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 827

                                                                                                                                        By: Zaffirini

                                                                                                         International Relations & Trade

                                                                                                                                              8/8/2005

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Legislators need a comprehensive road map detailing how state funds are spent on colonias projects.  Currently, state agencies collect pertinent information concerning their own agency but there does not exist a complete classification system. 

 

S.B. 827 requires the preparation and submission of a report card to the legislature showing, via a comprehensive classification system, the state's progress in bringing water/wastewater and paved roads to 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 Subchapter B, Chapter 405, Government Code, by adding Section 405.021, as follows:

 

Sec.  405.021.  REPORT ON STATE-FUNDED PROJECTS SERVING COLONIAS.  (a)  Defines "colonia."

 

(b)  Requires the secretary of state, based on information provided by Subsections (c) and (d), to establish and maintain a classification system that allows the secretary of state to track the progress of state-funded projects that provide water or wastewater services, paved roads, and other assistance to colonias.

 

(c)  Requires the secretary of state to compile information received from the Office of Rural Community Affairs (office), the Texas Water Development Board (board), the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and any other agency considered appropriate by the secretary of state for the purposes of the classification system.

 

(d)  Requires the secretary of state to compile information on colonias that is received from the colonia ombudsman under Section 775.004.

 

(e)  Requires the secretary of state to prepare a report on the progress of state-funded  projects in providing water and wastewater services, paved roads, and other assistance to colonias and to submit the report to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year.

 

(f)  Requires the report to the legislature to include certain information.

 

(g)  Requires the secretary of state, in conjunction with the establishment of the classification system required by this section, to establish and maintain a statewide system for identifying colonias.

 

(h)  Authorizes the secretary of state to contract with a third party to develop the classification system or compile or maintain the relevant information required by this section.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, by adding Section 487.060, as follows:

 

Sec.  487.060.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.  Defines "colonia."  Requires the office, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021, to, on a quarterly basis, provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any projects funded by the office that serve colonias by providing water or wastewater services, paved roads, or other assistance.  Requires the report to include certain information.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 775, Government Code, by amending Section 775.003, and adding Section 775.004, as follows:

 

Sec. 775.003.  COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.  Requires, rather than authorizes, the colonia initiatives coordinator to appoint a colonia ombudsman in certain counties.

 

Sec. 775.004.  INFORMATION ON COLONIAS.  Requires the colonia ombudsmen to gather information about the colonias in the counties for which the ombudsmen were appointed and provide the information to the secretary of state, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021.  Sets forth specific information which the ombudsmen are required, to the extent possible, to gather and requires the ombudsmen to provide the information to the secretary of state not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 2306, Government Code, by adding Section 2306.083, as follows:

 

Sec. 2306.083.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.  Defines "colonia."  Requires the governing board of DHCA, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021 and on a quarterly basis, to provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any projects funded by the department that provide assistance to colonias.  Sets forth specific information which is required to be included in the report.

 

SECTION 5.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 1001.033, as follows:

 

Sec. 1001.033.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.  Defines "colonia."  Requires the commissioner of state health services, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021, on a quarterly basis, to provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any projects funded by the board that serve colonias by providing water or wastewater services or paved roads.  Requires the report to include certain information.

 

SECTION 6.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.116, as follows:

 

Sec.  201.116.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.  Defines "colonia."  Requires TTC, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021, on a quarterly basis, to provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any projects funded by the commission that serve colonias by providing paved roads or other services.  Requires the report to include certain information.

 

SECTION 7.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 6, Water Code, by adding Section 6.1565, as follows:

 

Sec.  6.1565.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE.  Defines "colonia."  Requires the board, to assist the secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 405.021, on a quarterly basis, to provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any projects funded by the board that serve colonias by providing water or wastewater services or other assistance.  Requires the report to include certain information.

 

SECTION 8.  Effective date:  September 1, 2005.