By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 1745
         (In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2021; March 26, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Local Government;
  May 13, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8,
  Nays 0, one present not voting; May 13, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to study
  colonias and colonia initiatives in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) In this section,
  "colonia" has the meaning assigned by Section 2306.581, Government
  Code.
         (b)  A joint interim committee is established to study
  colonias and colonia initiatives in this state.
         (c)  The joint interim committee is composed of the members
  of the standing committees of the legislature with primary
  jurisdiction over colonias and colonia issues. The committee
  members shall select a presiding officer from among the membership.
         (d)  In conducting the study under this section, the joint
  interim committee shall:
               (1)  determine the best methods for updating and
  maintaining colonia identification systems and for identifying and
  classifying colonias in which the highest public health risks
  exist;
               (2)  consider whether colonias should be defined
  uniformly across all relevant state agencies and whether that
  definition should include essential metrics such as:
                     (A)  economic mobility levels;
                     (B)  poverty levels;
                     (C)  mortality rates;
                     (D)  health professional shortage area scores;
  and
                     (E)  the average level of education attained by
  colonia residents;
               (3)  to address the enduring lack of services and
  infrastructure in colonias, assess best practices and funding needs
  for surveying the services and infrastructure available in, and
  demographics of, each colonia;
               (4)  assess the status of state agency tracking and
  reporting of state-funded colonia projects and whether
  improvements to the tracking or reporting mechanisms are necessary;
               (5)  determine and assess any non-infrastructure needs
  within colonias and options for this state to address those needs;
  and
               (6)  assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
  colonias and whether additional state services are necessary to
  address those impacts.
         (e)  The joint interim committee has all other powers and
  duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the
  senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
  Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees
  on administration.
         (f)  Not later than September 1, 2022, the joint interim
  committee shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
  legislature a written report that includes the findings of the
  committee under this section, including any legislative
  recommendations.
         SECTION 2.  ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim
  committee established by Section 1 of this Act is abolished and this
  Act expires November 1, 2022.
         SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2021.
 
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