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GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

CHAPTER 752. IMMIGRATION

SUBCHAPTER A. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS

Sec. 752.001. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS. The

Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs is created within the

Texas Department of Human Services.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 526, Sec. 1, eff.

Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 752.003. REFUGEE COORDINATOR. The governor shall appoint a

refugee coordinator for the office to serve at the pleasure of

the governor. The refugee coordinator shall serve as chief

administrative officer of the office and shall ensure

coordination of public and private resources in refugee

resettlement.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 526, Sec. 1, eff.

Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 752.004. APPLICATION FOR AND DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

The office shall apply for the maximum amount of federal funds

available through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

(8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and the Refugee Act of 1980 (8

U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.). The office shall apply for those

funds and shall distribute the funds to agencies responsible for

providing services to newly legalized aliens and refugees in

accordance with federal law. The office may retain a portion of

the federal funds to cover reasonable costs incurred in securing

and administering the funds. The office may delegate to an

appropriate state agency the administration of funds under this

section.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.005. ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE LEGALIZATION IMPACT

ASSISTANCE GRANT (SLIAG) AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. The

office shall annually submit a report on the status of the SLIAG

program and refugee assistance programs to the Legislative Budget

Board and the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, detailing

the actual amount of federal funds received and the purposes for

which the funds were expended. The report shall be developed in

conjunction with state agencies receiving funds and in

consultation with the Governor's Advisory Committee on

Immigration and Refugees. The office shall submit the first

report under this section not later than September 1, 1992.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.006. SPENDING PLAN FOR FEDERAL FUNDS. The office shall

develop a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 and 1994 proposing

spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services to eligible

legalized aliens and for other federal funds available to benefit

immigrants and refugees in the state. The plan shall be developed

in conjunction with affected state agencies and with the advice

and recommendations of the Governor's Advisory Committee on

Immigration and Refugees. The plan shall be submitted to the

Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office of Budget and

Planning not later than September 1, 1992.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.007. OTHER FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE. In addition to other

duties prescribed by this subchapter, the office shall:

(1) coordinate public and private programs for the benefit of

immigrants and refugees;

(2) receive and address inquiries relating to the services

available to immigrants or refugees at the local, state, and

federal levels; and

(3) assist local communities with the development of programs to

address the needs of immigrants and refugees at the local level.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.008. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The office may

solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for the benefit

of immigrant or refugee programs within the state.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.009. FUNDING. Except for any unspent appropriations

transferred under this Act or any gifts, grants, or donations

accepted under this Act, the Office of Immigration and Refugee

Affairs may use only federal funds to perform the duties

prescribed by this Act.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

SUBCHAPTER B. GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND

REFUGEES

Sec. 752.021. GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND

REFUGEES. The Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and

Refugees is created within the office of the governor. The

committee shall advise and make recommendations to the Office of

Immigration and Refugee Affairs on immigration and refugee

issues, including the SLIAG program authorized by the Immigration

Reform and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.)

and the refugee assistance programs authorized by the Refugee Act

of 1980 (8 U.S.C. Section 1521 et seq.).

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.022. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE; TERMS; PRESIDING

OFFICER. (a) The committee is composed of 12 members appointed

by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate as

follows:

(1) two representatives of the refugee population;

(2) two representatives of the immigrant population;

(3) three representatives of local provider programs that serve

immigrants or refugees and that receive federal funds, with one

each from a public health program, a public assistance program,

and an education program;

(4) three representatives from voluntary resettlement agencies

that receive state or federal funds;

(5) one representative from a legal organization that is

involved in issues relating to immigrants or refugees; and

(6) one representative from a service organization that works

with immigrants or refugees.

(b) Committee members serve for terms of two years that expire

February 1 of each odd-numbered year.

serve as the chair of the committee for a one-year term.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.023. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COMMITTEE

MEMBERS. A member of the committee may not receive compensation

for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for

actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing the member's

duties subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement

provided by the General Appropriations Act for a state employee.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.024. FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE. The committee shall:

(1) advise and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration

and Refugee Affairs regarding policy, planning, and priorities

for the SLIAG program and refugee assistance programs;

(2) advise and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration

and Refugee Affairs regarding coordination of the efforts of all

public agencies involved in health, human services, and education

matters that relate to federal immigration and refugee laws and

rules or implementation of the SLIAG program or refugee

assistance programs;

(3) encourage communication and cooperation among local agencies

and programs, state agencies, immigration-related and

refugee-related legal and service agencies, and the federal

government;

(4) assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs in

applying for the maximum amount of federal funds available for

SLIAG-related programs and activities and refugee-related

programs and activities and in identifying local programs and

costs relating to immigration or refugees for which the state or

a political subdivision may receive reimbursement;

(5) provide information to programs and activities that serve

and encourage legalization and education of residents of this

state;

(6) review federal issues regarding the SLIAG program and

refugee assistance programs and make recommendations to the

Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs to encourage the

development of a state response to federal issues;

(7) review and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration

and Refugee Affairs and state agencies to ensure that the system

of fiscal and program operations for the SLIAG program and

refugee assistance programs is consistent with existing state and

federal requirements;

(8) assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs in the

development of an annual report on the status of the SLIAG

program and refugee assistance programs in the state;

(9) advise and make recommendations to the Office of Immigration

and Refugee Affairs on other related matters as directed by the

governor; and

(10) assist the Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs in the

development of a spending plan for fiscal years 1993 and 1994

proposing spending priorities for SLIAG funds for services to

eligible legalized aliens and for other federal funds available

to benefit immigrants or refugees in the state.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 752.026. FUNDING. Except for any unspent appropriations

transferred under this subchapter or gifts, grants, or donations

accepted under this subchapter, the Governor's Advisory Committee

on Immigration and Refugees may use only federal funds to perform

the duties prescribed by this subchapter.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.