CHAPTER 752. IMMIGRATION
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.
(c) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to
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.