2005 Texas Government Code CHAPTER 752. IMMIGRATION

GOVERNMENT CODE

CHAPTER 752. IMMIGRATION

SUBCHAPTER A. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS


	§ 752.001. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE 
AFFAIRS.  The Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs is created 
within the Texas Department of Human Services.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.  
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 526, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1995.


	§ 752.003. REFUGEE COORDINATOR.  The governor shall 
appoint a refugee coordinator for the office to serve at the 
pleasure of the governor.  The refugee coordinator shall serve as 
chief administrative officer of the office and shall ensure 
coordination of public and private resources in refugee 
resettlement.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.  
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 526, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1995.


	§ 752.004. APPLICATION FOR AND DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL 
FUNDS.  The office shall apply for the maximum amount of federal 
funds available through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 
1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and the Refugee Act of 1980 (8 
U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.). The office shall apply for those funds 
and shall distribute the funds to agencies responsible for 
providing services to newly legalized aliens and refugees in 
accordance with federal law.  The office may retain a portion of the 
federal funds to cover reasonable costs incurred in securing and 
administering the funds.  The office may delegate to an appropriate 
state agency the administration of funds under this section.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.005. ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE LEGALIZATION IMPACT 
ASSISTANCE GRANT (SLIAG) AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.  The 
office shall annually submit a report on the status of the SLIAG 
program and refugee assistance programs to the Legislative Budget 
Board and the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, detailing 
the actual amount of federal funds received and the purposes for 
which the funds were expended.  The report shall be developed in 
conjunction with state agencies receiving funds and in consultation 
with the Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and Refugees.  
The office shall submit the first report under this section not 
later than September 1, 1992.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.006. SPENDING PLAN FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.  The office 
shall develop a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 and 1994 
proposing spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services to 
eligible legalized aliens and for other federal funds available to 
benefit immigrants and refugees in the state.  The plan shall be 
developed in conjunction with affected state agencies and with the 
advice and recommendations of the Governor's Advisory Committee on 
Immigration and Refugees.  The plan shall be submitted to the 
Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office of Budget and 
Planning not later than September 1, 1992.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.007. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE.  In addition to 
other duties prescribed by this subchapter, the office shall:
		(1)  coordinate public and private programs for the 
benefit of immigrants and refugees;
		(2)  receive and address inquiries relating to the 
services available to immigrants or refugees at the local, state, 
and federal levels;  and
		(3)  assist local communities with the development of 
programs to address the needs of immigrants and refugees at the 
local level.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.008. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.  The office may 
solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for the benefit of 
immigrant or refugee programs within the state.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.009. FUNDING.  Except for any unspent 
appropriations transferred under this Act or any gifts, grants, or 
donations accepted under this Act, the Office of Immigration and 
Refugee Affairs may use only federal funds to perform the duties 
prescribed by this Act.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           

SUBCHAPTER B. GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND 
REFUGEES


	§ 752.021. GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION 
AND REFUGEES.  The Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration 
and Refugees is created within the office of the governor.  The 
committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Office of 
Immigration and Refugee Affairs on immigration and refugee issues, 
including the SLIAG program authorized by the Immigration Reform 
and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and the 
refugee assistance programs authorized by the Refugee Act of 1980 
(8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.).

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.022. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE;  TERMS;  PRESIDING 
OFFICER.  (a) The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by 
the governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:
		(1)  two representatives of the refugee population;                           
		(2)  two representatives of the immigrant population;                         
		(3)  three representatives of local provider programs 
that serve immigrants or refugees and that receive federal funds, 
with one each from a public health program, a public assistance 
program, and an education program;
		(4)  three representatives from voluntary resettlement 
agencies that receive state or federal funds;
		(5)  one representative from a legal organization that 
is involved in issues relating to immigrants or refugees;  and
		(6)  one representative from a service organization 
that works with immigrants or refugees.
	(b)  Committee members serve for terms of two years that 
expire February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
	(c)  The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to 
serve as the chair of the committee for a one-year term.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.023. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COMMITTEE 
MEMBERS.  A member of the committee may not receive compensation 
for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for 
actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing the member's 
duties subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement 
provided by the General Appropriations Act for a state employee.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.024. FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE.  The committee shall:                    
		(1)  advise and make recommendations to the Office of 
Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding policy, planning, and 
priorities for the SLIAG program and refugee assistance programs;
		(2)  advise and make recommendations to the Office of 
Immigration and Refugee Affairs regarding coordination of the 
efforts of all public agencies involved in health, human services, 
and education matters that relate to federal immigration and 
refugee laws and rules or implementation of the SLIAG program or 
refugee assistance programs;
		(3)  encourage communication and cooperation among 
local agencies and programs, state agencies, immigration-related 
and refugee-related legal and service agencies, and the federal 
government;
		(4)  assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee 
Affairs in applying for the maximum amount of federal funds 
available for SLIAG-related programs and activities and 
refugee-related programs and activities and in identifying local 
programs and costs relating to immigration or refugees for which 
the state or a political subdivision may receive reimbursement;
		(5)  provide information to programs and activities 
that serve and encourage legalization and education of residents of 
this state;
		(6)  review federal issues regarding the SLIAG program 
and refugee assistance programs and make recommendations to the 
Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs to encourage the 
development of a state response to federal issues;
		(7)  review and make recommendations to the Office of 
Immigration and Refugee Affairs and state agencies to ensure that 
the system of fiscal and program operations for the SLIAG program 
and refugee assistance programs is consistent with existing state 
and federal requirements;
		(8)  assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee 
Affairs in the development of an annual report on the status of the 
SLIAG program and refugee assistance programs in the state;
		(9)  advise and make recommendations to the Office of 
Immigration and Refugee Affairs on other related matters as 
directed by the governor;  and
		(10)  assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee 
Affairs in the development of a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 
and 1994 proposing spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services 
to eligible legalized aliens and for other federal funds available 
to benefit immigrants or refugees in the state.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.           


	§ 752.026. FUNDING.  Except for any unspent 
appropriations transferred under this subchapter or gifts, grants, 
or donations accepted under this subchapter, the Governor's 
Advisory Committee on Immigration and Refugees may use only federal 
funds to perform the duties prescribed by this subchapter.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.