BILL NUMBER: SB 194	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Florez

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2009

   An act relating to community development.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 194, as introduced, Florez. Community development:
disadvantaged communities.
   Existing law provides for the allocation of funds for various
economic development projects and programs administered by the
Department of Housing and Community Development.
   This bill would make several findings and declarations of the
Legislature relating to disadvantaged unincorporated communities. The
bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to encourage
investment in these communities.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (1) There exist in California hundreds of disadvantaged
unincorporated communities, commonly referred to as "colonias." There
are more than 200 of these communities in the San Joaquin Valley
alone. Many of these communities are geographically isolated islands,
surrounded by the city limits of large and medium-sized cities.
   (2) The conditions within these disadvantaged unincorporated
communities evidence a distinct lack of public and private investment
that presents a threat to the health and safety of the residents and
fosters economic, social, and educational inequality. Many of these
communities lack basic infrastructure, including, but not limited to,
streets, sidewalks, storm drainage, clean drinking water, and
adequate sewer service.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to
encourage investment in these communities and to address the complex
legal, financial, and political barriers that contribute to regional
inequity and infrastructure deficits within disadvantaged
unincorporated communities.