By: Lucio S.B. No. 824
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.