By: Zaffirini, Hinojosa S.B. No. 1745
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.