79R3002 MTB-D

By:  Lucio                                                        S.B. No. 278



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of financial assistance to counties for 
roadway projects serving border colonias.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1403.002, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  In determining the counties and the colonia access 
roadway projects that are to receive financial assistance and the 
amount of assistance given to a county or project, the commission 
shall prioritize projects that are located in communities with the 
greatest need.
	SECTION 2.  Section 1403.003, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 1403.003.  ADMINISTRATION BY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION [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)  "Department [Rural border county]" means the Texas 
Department of Transportation [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 department shall use existing funds to manage 
colonia access roadway projects serving border colonias that 
receive financial assistance under Section 1403.002. The 
department shall provide consulting services to counties receiving 
financial assistance for colonia access roadway projects on:
		(1)  the planning, designing, and constructing of 
roadways; or       
		(2)  any other function necessary to implement the 
projects [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 department may enter into an interagency agreement 
with the Texas A&M University Center for Housing and Urban 
Development and the Texas A&M University College of Architecture to 
assist the department in providing consulting services under 
Subsection (b) [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].
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.