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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to study |
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colonias and colonia initiatives in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) In this section, |
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"colonia" has the meaning assigned by Section 2306.581, Government |
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Code. |
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(b) A joint interim committee is established to study |
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colonias and colonia initiatives in this state. |
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(c) The joint interim committee is composed of the members |
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of the standing committees of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over colonias and colonia issues. The committee |
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members shall select a presiding officer from among the membership. |
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(d) In conducting the study under this section, the joint |
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interim committee shall: |
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(1) determine the best methods for updating and |
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maintaining colonia identification systems and for identifying and |
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classifying colonias in which the highest public health risks |
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exist; |
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(2) consider whether colonias should be defined |
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uniformly across all relevant state agencies and whether that |
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definition should include essential metrics such as: |
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(A) economic mobility levels; |
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(B) poverty levels; |
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(C) mortality rates; |
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(D) health professional shortage area scores; |
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and |
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(E) the average level of education attained by |
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colonia residents; |
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(3) to address the enduring lack of services and |
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infrastructure in colonias, assess best practices and funding needs |
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for surveying the services and infrastructure available in, and |
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demographics of, each colonia; |
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(4) assess the status of state agency tracking and |
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reporting of state-funded colonia projects and whether |
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improvements to the tracking or reporting mechanisms are necessary; |
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(5) determine and assess any non-infrastructure needs |
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within colonias and options for this state to address those needs; |
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and |
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(6) assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on |
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colonias and whether additional state services are necessary to |
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address those impacts. |
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(e) The joint interim committee has all other powers and |
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duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the |
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senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, |
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Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees |
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on administration. |
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(f) Not later than September 1, 2022, the joint interim |
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committee shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the |
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legislature a written report that includes the findings of the |
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committee under this section, including any legislative |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim |
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committee established by Section 1 of this Act is abolished and this |
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Act expires November 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |
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* * * * * |