FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS IN COLONIAS

(a) In this section, "colonia" means an identifiable unincorporated community, or an identifiable community annexed by a municipality and eligible for assistance as described by Section 43.907(b), Local Government Code, that: (1) is located within 150 miles of the international border of this state in a county that is eligible to receive financial assistance from the community development block grant colonia fund under this subchapter, as identified by department rule; (2) is determined by the department to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria, including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, and lack of decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and (3) was in existence and generally recognized as a colonia before November 28, 1990. (b) The department shall adopt a rule requiring a political subdivision that receives community development block grant program money targeted toward street improvement projects to allocate not less than five percent but not more than 15 percent of the total amount of targeted money to providing financial assistance to colonias within the political subdivision to enable the installation of adequate street lighting in those colonias if street lighting is absent or needed.