2005 Texas Government Code CHAPTER 775. COORDINATION OF COLONIA INITIATIVES

GOVERNMENT CODE

CHAPTER 775. COORDINATION OF COLONIA INITIATIVES


	§ 775.001. DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                   
		(1)  "Agency" means a state office, institution, or 
other state governmental entity.
		(2)  "Colonia" means a geographic area that:                                  
			(A)  is an economically distressed area as defined 
by Section 17.921, Water Code;  and
			(B)  is:                                                                     
				(i)  located in a county any part of which is 
within 50 miles of an international border;  or
				(ii)  located in a county:                                                  
					(a)  any part of which is within 100 
miles of an international border;  and
					(b)  that contains the majority of the 
area of a municipality with a population of more than 250,000.
		(3)  "Nonborder colonia" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 15.001, Water Code.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, § 44, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1367, § 11.05, eff. Sept. 1, 
2001;  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 708, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.


	§ 775.002. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION OF COLONIA 
INITIATIVES.  (a) The governor may designate an agency to act as 
the state's colonia initiatives coordinator.
	(b)  If appointed under Subsection (a), the colonia 
initiatives coordinator shall coordinate colonia initiatives 
within the agency and with the other agencies and local officials 
involved in colonia projects in the state.
	(c)  The colonia initiatives coordinator shall work with the 
other agencies and local officials involved in colonia projects in 
the state to:
		(1)  coordinate efforts to address colonia issues;                            
		(2)  identify nonprofit self-help groups to help with 
colonia initiatives;  
		(3)  set goals for each state fiscal year for colonia 
initiatives in the state, including goals to:
			(A)  address easement problems;  and                                         
			(B)  ensure that water and wastewater connections 
are extended from distribution lines to houses located in colonias;
		(4)  ensure that the goals set under this subsection 
are met each state fiscal year;  and
		(5)  coordinate state outreach efforts to nonborder 
colonias and to political subdivisions capable of providing water 
and wastewater services to nonborder colonias.
	(d)  The following agencies shall designate an officer or 
employee of the agency to serve as the agency's liaison for colonia 
initiatives:
		(1)  the office of the attorney general;                                      
		(2)  the Department of State Health Services;                                 
		(3)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community 
Affairs;                 
		(4)  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;                           
		(5)  the Texas Water Development Board;                                       
		(6)  the Office of Rural Community Affairs;                                   
		(7)  the Office of State-Federal Relations;                                   
		(8)  the Texas Department of Insurance;  and                                  
		(9)  the Texas Department of Transportation.                                  
	(e)  Each agency's liaison for colonia initiatives 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 colonia 
coordination at a state agency.
	(f)  In coordinating colonia initiatives under this section, 
the coordinator shall consider the advice and recommendations of 
the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee established under Section 
2306.584.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, § 44, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1367, § 11.06, eff. Sept. 1, 
2001;  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 351, § 1, eff. June 17, 2005.




	§ 775.003. COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.                                       

Text of section as amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 708, § 12
	The colonia initiatives coordinator may appoint a colonia 
ombudsman in:      
		(1)  each of the six border counties that the 
coordinator determines have the largest colonia populations;  and
		(2)  each additional county any part of which is within 
100 miles of an international border and that contains the majority 
of the area of a municipality with a population of more than 
250,000.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, § 44, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  
Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 708, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 
2005.

For text of section as amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, 
§ 3, see § 775.003, post.




	§ 775.003. COLONIA OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.                                       

Text of section as amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, § 3
	The colonia initiatives coordinator shall appoint a colonia 
ombudsman in each of the six border counties that the coordinator 
determines have the largest colonia populations.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, § 44, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  
Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 
2005.

For text of section as amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 708, 
§ 12, see § 775.003, ante.


	§ 775.004. DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGY TO ASSIST COLONIA 
RESIDENTS.           

Text of section as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 351, § 2
	(a)  To improve services delivered to colonia residents, the 
colonia initiatives coordinator shall work with the Colonia 
Resident Advisory Committee established under Section 2306.584.
	(b)  The coordinator may establish an advisory committee 
similar to the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee to supplement 
the efforts of the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee by providing 
representation for colonia residents in counties that are not 
represented by a member of the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee.
	(c)  The coordinator shall consider the advice of the Colonia 
Resident Advisory Committee and any committee established under 
Subsection (b) regarding the needs of colonia residents.
	(d)  Based on the advice received under Subsection (c) and 
any recommendations received from the agencies listed in Section 
775.002(d), the coordinator shall define and develop a strategy to 
address the needs of colonia residents and make recommendations to 
the legislature based on that strategy.  The coordinator shall 
recommend appropriate programs, grants, and activities to the 
legislature.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 351, § 2, eff. June 17, 2005.           

For text of section as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, § 
3, see § 775.004, post.


	§ 775.004. INFORMATION ON COLONIAS.                                         

Text of section as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, § 3
	(a)  The colonia ombudsmen shall gather information about 
the colonias in the counties for which the ombudsmen were appointed 
and provide the information to the secretary of state, to assist the 
secretary of state in preparing the report required under Section 
405.021.
	(b)  To the extent possible, the ombudsmen shall gather 
information regarding:
		(1)  the platting of each colonia;                                            
		(2)  the infrastructure of each colonia;                                      
		(3)  the availability of health care services;                                
		(4)  the availability of financial assistance;  and                           
		(5)  any other appropriate topic as requested by the 
secretary of state.    
	(c)  The ombudsmen shall provide the information to the 
secretary of state not later than September 1 of each even-numbered 
year.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 828, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.           

For text of section as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 351, § 
2, see § 775.004, ante.