82R6353 EAH-F

By: Callegari H.B. No. 3757

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the coordination of rural and small community initiatives.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 793 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 793. COORDINATION OF RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITIES

Sec. 793.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Agency" means a state office, institution, or other state governmental entity that is in the executive branch of state government.

(2) "Coordinator" means the rural and small community coordinator.

(3) "Task force" means the Texas Rural and Small Community Advisory Task Force.

Sec. 793.002. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION OF RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. (a) The governor may designate an employee of the governor's office, an agency, or the office of the secretary of state to act as the state's rural and small community coordinator. The coordinator shall:

(1) examine state and federal programs that address the needs of rural and small communities;

(2) act as an ombudsman for governmental agencies within the state to help reduce regulations by improving communication and cooperation between federal, state, and local governments;

(3) study the best practices found in other states and within the state and work with agencies to develop a coordinated state plan to implement similar programs tailored to the needs of the state's rural and small communities; and

(4) work with federal, state, and local governmental entities to resolve any infrastructure, capacity, and economic development problems to allow rural and small communities to:

(A) manage better guided growth; and

(B) become less dependent on state funds and services.

(b) The coordinator shall coordinate programs and initiatives that address the needs of rural and small communities:

(1) within the agency; and

(2) with other agencies and local officials involved in rural and small community projects in the state.

(c) The coordinator shall work with other agencies and local officials involved in rural and small community projects in the state to:

(1) coordinate efforts to address rural and small community issues;

(2) identify nonprofit self-help groups and community development organizations to help with rural and small community initiatives;

(3) set goals for each state fiscal year for rural and small community initiatives in the state, including goals to:

(A) address regional asset identification and development;

(B) ensure access to state and federal programs through better outreach and application streamlining;

(C) increase international competitiveness, import capacity, and export capacity;

(D) increase potential for entrepreneurial and small business development opportunities;

(E) improve technical assistance needed to build local capacity;

(F) assist efforts for youth retention and workforce skill development; and

(G) increase regional planning and coordination;

(4) ensure that the goals set under this subsection are met each state fiscal year; and

(5) coordinate state outreach efforts to rural and small communities and to stakeholders capable of providing needed services.

(d) If the governor designates a coordinator under Subsection (a), the following agencies shall designate an officer or employee of the agency to serve as the agency's liaison to the coordinator:

(1) the Texas Department of Rural Affairs;

(2) the Texas Water Development Board;

(3) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(4) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;

(5) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(6) the Parks and Wildlife Department;

(7) the Texas Department of Transportation;

(8) the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;

(9) the office of the secretary of state;

(10) the Department of Agriculture;

(11) the office of the comptroller; and

(12) the Texas Workforce Commission.

(e) Each agency's liaison under Subsection (d) must be a deputy executive director or a person of equivalent or higher authority at the agency. This subsection does not authorize the creation of a new position for rural and small community coordination at a state agency.

(f) In coordinating rural and small community initiatives under this section, the coordinator shall consider the advice and recommendations of the task force established under Section 793.003.

Sec. 793.003. TEXAS RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITY ADVISORY TASK FORCE. (a) The coordinator shall appoint to serve on the Texas Rural and Small Community Advisory Task Force:

(1) at least one representative from each agency listed under Section 793.002(d);

(2) two representatives who are members of organizations that represent the interests of rural and small communities;

(3) two representatives who are county officials from rural counties;

(4) two representatives from the councils of government that serve regions that are predominantly rural or composed of small communities;

(5) two representatives who are officials from small municipalities;

(6) two representatives who are board members of nonprofit or community development organizations;

(7) two representatives of institutions of higher education who specialize in rural community and economic development;

(8) two representatives of local small business development corporations; and

(9) two representatives of local economic development corporations.

(b) Each agency's representative under Subsection (a)(1) serves in a resource capacity only and must be a deputy executive director or a person of equivalent or higher authority at the agency.

(c) The coordinator shall make appointments under Subsection (a) so that different geographic regions of the state are represented in order to better develop a plan that can meet the needs of unique rural and small communities.

(d) The coordinator shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.

(e) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the task force.

Sec. 793.004. TEXAS RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITY COORDINATED PLAN. (a) The task force shall develop and adopt the Texas Rural and Small Community Coordinated Plan. The plan must include:

(1) short-term recommendations and initiatives that the state, including the coordinator and each entity represented on the task force, may follow after the adoption of the plan for the ensuing:

(A) two years; and

(B) four years;

(2) long-term recommendations and initiatives that the state, including the coordinator and each entity represented on the task force, may follow after the adoption of the plan for the ensuing:

(A) 5 years;

(B) 10 years; and

(C) 15 years; and

(3) recommendations on what the state can do to:

(A) increase and improve delivery, access, and administration of programs that benefit rural and small communities in the state;

(B) increase regional and individual capacity in rural and small communities in the state;

(C) address any important problem identified by the task force that currently impedes development, growth, and commerce in rural and small communities;

(D) increase international competitiveness, import capacity, and export capacity;

(E) increase potential for entrepreneurial and small business development opportunities;

(F) improve technical assistance needed to build local capacity;

(G) assist efforts for youth retention and workforce skill development; and

(H) decrease the dependency of rural and small communities on state funds and services and increase sustainable economic growth and community development in those communities.

(b) Each entity represented on the task force may incorporate the plan's applicable recommendations and initiatives into the entity's operations.

(c) The task force shall adopt an updated plan before the fourth anniversary of the date the plan is adopted or the date an updated plan is adopted.

Sec. 793.005. QUARTERLY REPORTS. Each entity represented on the task force shall submit quarterly reports to the coordinator regarding any action taken by the entity on behalf of the task force or in furtherance of a plan or recommendation adopted by the task force, including:

(1) the status of projects;

(2) the funding of expenditures;

(3) the planning and research conducted;

(4) the community and technical assistance provided;

(5) the information collected; and

(6) the direct role of the entity in promoting community and economic development through federal, state, and local government funding.

SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2012, the rural and small community coordinator, if one is designated by the governor under Section 793.002, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, members of the legislature, and Legislative Budget Board a detailed written report of the Texas Rural and Small Community Coordinated Plan adopted under Section 793.004, Government Code, as added by this Act, and any recommendations for legislative action.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.