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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the determination by a state agency that an area in this |
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state is a rural area. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 10, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 2063 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2063. STATE AGENCY DETERMINATION OF AREA AS RURAL |
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Sec. 2063.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency" |
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means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in |
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the executive branch of state government, including a university |
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system or institution of higher education as defined by Section |
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61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 2063.002. DETERMINATION THAT AREA IS RURAL. In |
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addition to any factor prescribed by other law and to the extent |
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authorized by that law, a state agency shall, when determining |
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whether an area of this state is a rural area, consider the |
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following factors: |
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(1) the economic need of the area, including whether |
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the area has high unemployment or low median income; |
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(2) health care accessibility in the area, including |
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whether the area has limited access to hospitals, doctors, or |
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mental health services; |
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(3) infrastructure development of the area, including |
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whether the area has adequate roads, public transit, or Internet |
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access; and |
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(4) access to and quality of education in the area, |
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including an assessment of student poverty levels, resource |
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availability, and school funding levels. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |