79R2870 PJR-D

By:  Madla                                                      S.C.R. No. 13 



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Colonias are unincorporated communities along the 
border of the United States and Mexico where rapid population 
growth is putting great pressure on an already inadequate 
infrastructure and straining the border region past its economic 
limits and resources, the tragic effects of which have broad 
repercussions on the health of residents; and
	WHEREAS, According to correspondence with the Senate 
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, the Texas Water 
Development Board has identified more than 1,500 colonias with an 
estimated population of 400,000 residents, while other estimates 
place this population at approximately 700,000 residents; and
	WHEREAS, While the struggle to provide affordable housing in 
these communities is ongoing, a new type of substandard development 
called "non-border colonias" is cropping up in areas far from the 
border region that is similarly lacking in safe, sanitary housing 
and basic human services; and
	WHEREAS, A colonia is defined in Section 2306.581, Government 
Code, as "a geographic area located in a county some part of which 
is within 150 miles of the international border of this state and 
that has a majority population composed of individuals and families 
of low and very low income"; and
	WHEREAS, Non-border colonias have yet to be officially 
defined and therefore receive little attention though they face 
many of the same challenges as border colonias, including an 
absence of basic services such as potable water, adequate sewage 
systems, drainage, streets, and utilities; and
	WHEREAS, Worthwhile programs such as the Contract for Deed 
Conversion Initiative, authorized by the 78th Texas Legislature and 
specifically designed to assist colonia residents who are currently 
purchasing residential property, apply only to residents within the 
border region specified in the statute; and
	WHEREAS, With the number of non-border colonias rapidly 
increasing, an assessment of their prevalence and needs should be 
prepared to enable the state to act accordingly; now, therefore, be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby direct the Texas Department of Housing and Community 
Affairs' Office of Colonia Initiatives and the Office of Rural and 
Community Affairs to jointly conduct a study of the current status 
and needs of non-border colonias; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Housing and Community 
Affairs' Office of Colonia Initiatives and the Office of Rural and 
Community Affairs submit a full report of their findings and 
recommendations to the 80th Legislature when that legislature 
convenes in January 2007; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 
copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas 
Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the executive 
director of the Office of Rural and Community Affairs.