79R2185 DWS-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 1711



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to funding of economic development and job training in 
certain counties with a high unemployment rate.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 466.355(b), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(b)  Money in the state lottery account may be used only for 
the following purposes and shall be distributed as follows:
		(1)  the payment of prizes to the holders of winning 
tickets;               
		(2)  the payment of costs incurred in the operation and 
administration of the lottery, including any fees received by a 
lottery operator, provided that the costs incurred in a fiscal 
biennium may not exceed an amount equal to 12 percent of the gross 
revenue accruing from the sale of tickets in that biennium;
		(3)  the establishment of a pooled bond fund, lottery 
prize reserve fund, unclaimed prize fund, and prize payment 
account; and
		(4)  the balance, after creation of a reserve 
sufficient to pay the amounts needed or estimated to be needed under 
Subdivisions (1) through (3), to be transferred [to the foundation 
school fund,] on or before the 15th day of each month as follows:
			(A)  five percent to the general revenue fund for 
use only to fund economic development and job training in counties 
that are adjacent to this state's border with the United Mexican 
States and that have an unemployment rate that averaged more than 10 
percent for the most recent two consecutive years for which 
statistics are available; and
			(B)  the remainder to the foundation school fund.                     
	SECTION 2.  Section 481.078, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  At least five percent of the money granted from the fund 
must be awarded to recipients located in counties that are adjacent 
to this state's border with the United Mexican States and that have 
an unemployment rate that averaged more than 10 percent for the most 
recent two consecutive years for which statistics are available.
	SECTION 3.  Section 303.003(e), Labor Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	(e)  It is the intent of the legislature that, to the 
greatest extent practicable, money from the skills development fund 
shall be spent in all areas of this state, except that at least five 
percent of the money must be spent in counties that are adjacent to 
this state's border with the United Mexican States and that have an 
unemployment rate that averaged more than 10 percent for the most 
recent two consecutive years for which statistics are available.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 57, Utilities Code, is 
amended by adding Section 57.0478 to read as follows:
	Sec. 57.0478.  GRANTS AND LOANS TO CERTAIN COUNTIES.  At 
least five percent of the money granted or loaned under this 
subchapter must be distributed to counties that are adjacent to 
this state's border with the United Mexican States and that have an 
unemployment rate that averaged more than 10 percent for the most 
recent two consecutive years for which statistics are available.
	SECTION 5.  Section 57.051, Utilities Code, is repealed.                       
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.