Texas colonia self-help centers reauthorized by Texas Legislature [Video]

The Texas Legislature acted today to preserve a key program in the state’s efforts to address the substandard living conditions in Texas colonias.

The Texas Senate passed SB 2 which allows the Governor authority to transfer administration of the CDBG program for non-entitlement jurisdictions and disaster recovery to an agency other than the current administering agency — the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA).

Under the legislation, TDRA ceases to exist as an independent state department and becomes an “office” within the Texas Department of Agriculture.

As we reported earlier, CDBG disaster recovery programs are being transferred by Governor Perry to the General Land Office.

Texas CDBG non-entitlement funds (for small cities and rural areas) were originally administered by the state housing agency but were transferred in 2001 to the newly created Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA). That agency subsequently underwent a name change and became the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA).

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