87R30098 BRG-D     By: Nichols S.R. No. 516     R E S O L U T I O N            BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, That Senate Rule 12.03 be   suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the   conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on House   Bill 5 (the expansion of broadband services to certain areas) to   consider and take action on the following matters:          (1)  Senate Rules 12.03(1) and (4) are suspended to permit   the committee to add text on a matter not included in either the   house or senate version of the bill in proposed SECTION 5 of the   bill, by adding Sections 490I.0105(a)(1)(B) and (2)(B), Government   Code, to read as follows:          (a)  The broadband development office shall create, update   annually, and publish on the comptroller's Internet website a map   classifying each designated area in this state as:                (1)  an eligible area, if:                      (A)  fewer than 80 percent of the addresses in the   designated area have access to broadband service; and                      (B)  the federal government has not awarded   funding under a competitive process to support the deployment of   broadband service to addresses in the designated area; or                (2)  an ineligible area, if:                      (A)  80 percent or more of the addresses in the   designated area have access to broadband service; or                      (B)  the federal government has awarded funding   under a competitive process to support the deployment of broadband   service to addresses in the designated area.          Explanation: This change is necessary to ensure that an area   is not classified as an area for which state financial assistance   may be provided for the purpose of expanding access to and adoption   of broadband service under Chapter 490I, Government Code, as added   by the bill, if the federal government has awarded funding for the   purposes of supporting the deployment of broadband service in the   area.          (2)  Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the   committee to add text on a matter not included in either the house   or senate version of the bill in proposed SECTION 5 of the bill, by   adding Section 490I.0105(m), Government Code, to read as follows:          (m)  A designated area that is classified as an ineligible   area on account of the existence of federal funding to support   broadband service deployment in the area may be reclassified as an   eligible area if:                (1)  funding from the federal government is forfeited   or the recipient of the funding is disqualified from receiving the   funding; and                (2)  the designated area otherwise meets the   qualifications of an eligible area.          Explanation: This change is necessary to ensure that an area   classified as ineligible for state financial assistance provided   for the purpose of expanding access to and adoption of broadband   service under Chapter 490I, Government Code, as added by the bill,   on account of the availability of federal funding for supporting   the deployment of broadband service in the area may be reclassified   as eligible to receive the assistance if the federal government   funding is no longer available.