By:  Estes                                                        S.B. No. 1686


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the interagency work group on rural issues.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 487.054,  Government Code, is amended 
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as 
follows:
	(a)  At least once each year, the following agency heads or 
their designees shall meet in Austin to discuss rural issues and to 
provide information showing the impact each agency has on rural 
communities for use in developing rural policy and compiling the 
annual report under Section 487.051(4):
		(1)  the commissioner of agriculture;                                         
		(2)  the executive director of the Public Utility 
Commission of Texas;      
		(3)  the director of the Texas Agricultural Extension 
Service;              
		(4)  the presiding officer of the Telecommunications 
Infrastructure Fund Board;
		(5)  the executive director of the Texas Department of 
Housing and Community Affairs;
		(6)  the commissioner of the Department of State Health 
Services [health];
		(7)  the executive administrator of the Texas Water 
Development Board;      
		(8)  the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife 
Department;           
		(9)  [the commissioner of human services;                    
		[(10)]  the commissioner of higher education;                
		(10) [(11)]  the comptroller;                         
		(11) [(12)]  the executive director of the Texas 
Department of Transportation;
		(12) [(13)  the presiding officer of the Texas 
Aerospace Commission;
		[(14)]  the executive director of the Texas Commission 
on Environmental Quality;
		(13) [(15)]  the executive director of the Texas 
[Department of] Economic Development and Tourism Office;
		(14) [(16)]  the commissioner of insurance;           
		(15) [(17)]  the commissioner of the Department of 
Aging and Disability Services [mental health and mental 
retardation];
		(16) [(18)]  the commissioner of education;           
		(17) [(19)]  the executive commissioner of the Health 
and Human Services Commission [health and human services];
		(18) [(20)]  the executive director of the Texas 
Workforce Commission;
		(19) [(21)]  the executive director of the Texas 
Historical Commission;
		(20) [(22)]  a member of the Railroad Commission of 
Texas;
		(21) [(23)]  the executive director of the State Soil 
and Water Conservation Board;
		(22) [(24)]  the executive director of the office; and
		(23) [(25)]  the head of any other agency interested in 
rural  issues.
	(c)  In addition to the individuals identified by Subsection 
(a), the governor shall designate a representative from the entity 
that provides mediation services to the state under 7 U.S.C. 
Section 5102 to attend meetings held under this section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.