Sec. 2306.590. COLONIA INITIATIVES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The Colonia Initiatives Advisory Committee is composed of seven members appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) one colonia resident;

(2) one representative of a nonprofit organization that serves colonia residents;

(3) one representative of a political subdivision that contains all or part of a colonia;

(4) one person to represent private interests in banking or land development;

(5) one representative of a nonprofit utility;

(6) one representative of an engineering consultant firm involved in economically distressed areas program projects under Subchapter K, Chapter 17, Water Code; and

(7) one public member.

(b) Each committee member, except the public member, must reside within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border.

(c) The secretary of state is an ex officio member of the committee.

(d) The committee shall:

(1) review the progress of colonia water and wastewater infrastructure projects managed by the Texas Water Development Board and the state agency responsible for administering the portion of the federal community development block grant nonentitlement program that addresses the infrastructure needs of colonias;

(2) present an update and make recommendations to the board and the Texas Water Development Board annually at a joint meeting regarding:

(A) efforts to ensure that colonia residents are connected to the infrastructure funded by state agencies;

(B) the financial, managerial, and technical capabilities of project owners and operators;

(C) the agencies' management of their colonia programs and the effectiveness of their policies regarding underperforming projects; and

(D) any other issues related to the effect of state-managed infrastructure programs on colonia residents;

(3) review public comments regarding the colonia needs assessment incorporated into the state low income housing plan under Section 2306.0721; and

(4) based on the public comments reviewed under Subdivision (3), recommend to the board new colonia programs or improvements to existing colonia programs.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1234, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 84 (S.B. 1574), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.