By: Lucio S.B. No. 824

(In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2011; March 1, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs; March 15, 2011, rereferred to Committee on International Relations and Trade; April 6, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 6, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 824 By: Lucio

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.

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 an advisory committee established under Section 793.003.

Sec. 793.003. TEXAS RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The coordinator may appoint advisory committees as necessary to assist the coordinator in the coordinator's duties. An advisory committee may be composed of private citizens and representatives from state and local governmental entities. A state or local governmental entity shall appoint a representative to an advisory committee at the request of the coordinator.

(b) The coordinator shall create a rural advisory committee to advise the coordinator in rural policy priorities and administration of community development and health programs that impact rural communities. The coordinator shall appoint elected officials and community members with expertise in community development, economic development, and rural health to serve as members of the committee. The coordinator may appoint individuals with expertise in education or transportation, as determined by the coordinator, to serve as members of the committee.

(c) Chapter 2110 does not apply to an advisory committee created under this section.

Sec. 793.004. QUARTERLY REPORTS. Each entity represented on an advisory committee established under Section 793.003 shall submit quarterly reports to the coordinator regarding any action taken by the entity on behalf of the advisory committee or in furtherance of a plan or recommendation adopted by the advisory committee, 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. 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.

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