79R14139 MFC-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 2597
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2597:
By: Chavez C.S.H.B. No. 2597
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to systems for identifying colonias and for tracking the
progress of state-funded projects that benefit colonias and the
submission of a related report to the legislature.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 405, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 405.021 to read as follows:
Sec. 405.021. REPORT ON STATE-FUNDED PROJECTS SERVING
COLONIAS. (a) In this section, "colonia" means a geographic area
that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921, Water Code; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) Based on information provided under Subsections (c) and
(d), the secretary of state shall establish and maintain a
classification system that allows the secretary of state to track
the progress of state-funded projects in providing water or
wastewater services, paved roads, and other assistance to colonias.
(c) The secretary of state shall compile information
received from the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the Texas
Water Development Board, the Texas Transportation Commission, the
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Department
of State Health Services, and any other agency considered
appropriate by the secretary of state for purposes of the
classification system.
(d) The secretary of state shall compile information on
colonias that is received from the colonia ombudsmen under Section
775.004.
(e) The secretary of state shall:
(1) prepare a report on the progress of state-funded
projects in providing water or wastewater services, paved roads,
and other assistance to colonias; and
(2) submit the report to the presiding officer of each
house of the legislature not later than December 1 of each
even-numbered year.
(f) The report to the legislature must include a list of
colonias with the highest health risk to colonia residents, based
on factors identified by the secretary of state.
(g) In conjunction with the establishment of the
classification system required by this section, the secretary of
state shall establish and maintain a statewide system for
identifying colonias.
(h) The secretary of state may contract with a third party
to develop the classification system or the identification system
or to compile or maintain the relevant information required by this
section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 487.060 to read as follows:
Sec. 487.060. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) In this
section, "colonia" means a geographic area that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921, Water Code; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
required under Section 405.021, the office on a quarterly basis
shall 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.
(c) The report must include:
(1) a description of any relevant projects;
(2) the location of each project;
(3) the number of colonia residents served by each
project;
(4) the cost or anticipated cost of each project;
(5) a statement of whether each project is completed
and, if not, the expected completion date of the project; and
(6) any other information, as determined appropriate
by the secretary of state.
SECTION 3. Chapter 775, Government Code, is amended by
amending Section 775.003 and adding Section 775.004 to read as
follows:
Sec. 775.003. COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. The colonia
initiatives coordinator shall [may] appoint a colonia ombudsman in
each of the six border counties that the coordinator determines
have the largest colonia populations.
Sec. 775.004. INFORMATION ON COLONIAS. (a) The colonia
ombudsmen shall 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.
(b) To the extent possible, the ombudsmen shall gather
information regarding:
(1) the platting of each colonia;
(2) the infrastructure of each colonia;
(3) the availability of health care services;
(4) the availability of financial assistance; and
(5) any other appropriate topic as requested by the
secretary of state.
(c) The ombudsmen shall provide the information to the
secretary of state not later than September 1 of each even-numbered
year.
SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2306.083 to read as follows:
Sec. 2306.083. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) In this
section, "colonia" means a geographic area that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921, Water Code; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
required under Section 405.021, the board on a quarterly basis
shall provide a report to the secretary of state detailing any
projects funded by the department that provide assistance to
colonias.
(c) The report must include:
(1) a description of any relevant projects;
(2) the location of each project;
(3) the number of colonia residents served by each
project;
(4) the cost or anticipated cost of each project;
(5) a statement of whether each project is completed
and, if not, the expected completion date of the project; and
(6) any other information, as determined appropriate
by the secretary of state.
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.033 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.033. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) In this
section, "colonia" means a geographic area that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921, Water Code; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
required under Section 405.021, Government Code, the commissioner
on a quarterly basis shall provide a report to the secretary of
state detailing any projects funded by the department that provide
assistance to colonias.
(c) The report must include:
(1) a description of any relevant projects;
(2) the location of each project;
(3) the number of colonia residents served by each
project;
(4) the cost or anticipated cost of each project;
(5) a statement of whether each project is completed
and, if not, the expected completion date of the project; and
(6) any other information, as determined appropriate
by the secretary of state.
SECTION 6. Subchapter C, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 201.116 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.116. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) In this
section, "colonia" means a geographic area that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921, Water Code; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
required under Section 405.021, Government Code, the commission on
a quarterly basis shall provide a report to the secretary of state
detailing any projects funded by the department that serve colonias
by providing paved roads or other assistance.
(c) The report must include:
(1) a description of any relevant projects;
(2) the location of each project;
(3) the number of colonia residents served by each
project;
(4) the cost or anticipated cost of each project;
(5) a statement of whether each project is completed
and, if not, the expected completion date of the project; and
(6) any other information, as determined appropriate
by the secretary of state.
SECTION 7. Subchapter E, Chapter 6, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 6.1565 to read as follows:
Sec. 6.1565. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) In this
section, "colonia" means a geographic area that:
(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by
Section 17.921; and
(2) is located in a county any part of which is within
62 miles of an international border.
(b) To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
required under Section 405.021, Government Code, the board on a
quarterly basis shall 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.
(c) The report must include:
(1) a description of any relevant projects;
(2) the location of each project;
(3) the number of colonia residents served by each
project;
(4) the cost or anticipated cost of each project;
(5) a statement of whether each project is completed
and, if not, the expected completion date of the project; and
(6) any other information, as determined appropriate
by the secretary of state.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.