Bill Text: TX HB4748 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of regional broadband advisory groups.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4748 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4748-Introduced.html
88R14143 DIO-D | ||
By: Bernal | H.B. No. 4748 |
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relating to the creation of regional broadband advisory groups. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 490I.01051 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 490I.01051. REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY GROUPS. (a) | ||
The broadband development office may designate regions of the state | ||
and appoint for each region a regional broadband advisory group. | ||
The office shall appoint members of each regional broadband | ||
advisory group to represent: | ||
(1) public and private entities from eligible areas as | ||
designated under Section 490I.0105(a) in the region; and | ||
(2) at least one political subdivision in the region. | ||
(b) The office shall designate a representative from the | ||
office to serve as an ex officio member of each regional broadband | ||
advisory group. | ||
(c) A regional broadband advisory group shall: | ||
(1) gather suggestions and recommendations from the | ||
public regarding issues that should be addressed in the state | ||
broadband plan under Section 490I.0107 for the region; | ||
(2) create plans to address broadband service needs | ||
identified under the state broadband plan under Section 490I.0107 | ||
in the region; | ||
(3) provide information to the office to be used for | ||
long-range federal and state funding forecasts for the development | ||
of broadband service in the region; | ||
(4) engage in outreach to communities in the region | ||
regarding the expansion, adoption, affordability, and use of | ||
broadband service; and | ||
(5) coordinate efforts in the region to form | ||
partnerships and joint funding opportunities for broadband | ||
development. | ||
(d) Annually, a regional broadband advisory group shall | ||
submit a report to the office identifying: | ||
(1) the progress of broadband development in | ||
designated areas in the region; and | ||
(2) barriers to broadband deployment in designated | ||
areas in the region. | ||
(e) The office may provide technical and financial | ||
assistance to a regional broadband advisory group for the | ||
development of a report described by Subsection (d). | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 490I.01061 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 490I.01061. FUNDING FOR REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY | ||
GROUPS. (a) The broadband development office may enter into a | ||
contract with a political subdivision that is part of a regional | ||
broadband advisory group under Section 490I.01051 to pay all or | ||
part of the cost of performing the group's duties. | ||
(b) A political subdivision may submit, either individually | ||
or jointly with another representative of a regional broadband | ||
advisory group, a written application to the office for the | ||
purposes described in Subsection (a). | ||
(c) The application must be in the manner and form required | ||
by the comptroller. | ||
(d) The office may award the applicant all or part of the | ||
requested funds that the office considers necessary for the | ||
political subdivision to carry out the purposes described in | ||
Subsection (a). | ||
(e) If the office grants an application under this section | ||
and awards funds, the office shall enter into a contract with the | ||
political subdivision that includes: | ||
(1) a detailed statement of the purpose for which the | ||
money is to be used; | ||
(2) the total amount of money to be paid by the office | ||
under the contract; and | ||
(3) any other terms and conditions required by the | ||
comptroller's rules or agreed to by the contracting parties. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |