Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4748 Compare Versions

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1	1	88R14143 DIO-D
2	2	By: Bernal H.B. No. 4748
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation of regional broadband advisory groups.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by
10	10	adding Section 490I.01051 to read as follows:
11	11	Sec. 490I.01051. REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY GROUPS. (a)
12	12	The broadband development office may designate regions of the state
13	13	and appoint for each region a regional broadband advisory group.
14	14	The office shall appoint members of each regional broadband
15	15	advisory group to represent:
16	16	(1) public and private entities from eligible areas as
17	17	designated under Section 490I.0105(a) in the region; and
18	18	(2) at least one political subdivision in the region.
19	19	(b) The office shall designate a representative from the
20	20	office to serve as an ex officio member of each regional broadband
21	21	advisory group.
22	22	(c) A regional broadband advisory group shall:
23	23	(1) gather suggestions and recommendations from the
24	24	public regarding issues that should be addressed in the state
25	25	broadband plan under Section 490I.0107 for the region;
26	26	(2) create plans to address broadband service needs
27	27	identified under the state broadband plan under Section 490I.0107
28	28	in the region;
29	29	(3) provide information to the office to be used for
30	30	long-range federal and state funding forecasts for the development
31	31	of broadband service in the region;
32	32	(4) engage in outreach to communities in the region
33	33	regarding the expansion, adoption, affordability, and use of
34	34	broadband service; and
35	35	(5) coordinate efforts in the region to form
36	36	partnerships and joint funding opportunities for broadband
37	37	development.
38	38	(d) Annually, a regional broadband advisory group shall
39	39	submit a report to the office identifying:
40	40	(1) the progress of broadband development in
41	41	designated areas in the region; and
42	42	(2) barriers to broadband deployment in designated
43	43	areas in the region.
44	44	(e) The office may provide technical and financial
45	45	assistance to a regional broadband advisory group for the
46	46	development of a report described by Subsection (d).
47	47	SECTION 2. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by
48	48	adding Section 490I.01061 to read as follows:
49	49	Sec. 490I.01061. FUNDING FOR REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY
50	50	GROUPS. (a) The broadband development office may enter into a
51	51	contract with a political subdivision that is part of a regional
52	52	broadband advisory group under Section 490I.01051 to pay all or
53	53	part of the cost of performing the group's duties.
54	54	(b) A political subdivision may submit, either individually
55	55	or jointly with another representative of a regional broadband
56	56	advisory group, a written application to the office for the
57	57	purposes described in Subsection (a).
58	58	(c) The application must be in the manner and form required
59	59	by the comptroller.
60	60	(d) The office may award the applicant all or part of the
61	61	requested funds that the office considers necessary for the
62	62	political subdivision to carry out the purposes described in
63	63	Subsection (a).
64	64	(e) If the office grants an application under this section
65	65	and awards funds, the office shall enter into a contract with the
66	66	political subdivision that includes:
67	67	(1) a detailed statement of the purpose for which the
68	68	money is to be used;
69	69	(2) the total amount of money to be paid by the office
70	70	under the contract; and
71	71	(3) any other terms and conditions required by the
72	72	comptroller's rules or agreed to by the contracting parties.
73	73	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.