GEC S.B. 1529 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
S.B. 1529
By: Brown (Janek)
4-23-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, the law prohibits political subdivisions from authorizing the
construction or occupancy of a new apartment house or conversion to a
condominium unless the construction plan provides for individual metering
by the utility company or submetering by the owner oF each dwelling unit
for the measurement of the quantity of electricity, if any, consumed by
the occupants within that dwelling unit.  This bill provides new
regulations regarding utility services for certain dwellings. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1529 provides new regulations regarding utility services
for certain dwellings. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1, Article 1446d, V.T.C.S., by adding
Subdivision (3), to define "housing for older persons." 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 2, Article 1446d, V.T.C.S., by amending
Subsection (b), and adding Subsection (d), to prohibit the provisions of
Subsection (a) of this section from applying to the issuance of a permit
for the construction of housing for older persons with 100 or more
dwelling units.  Requires an incorporated city or town, before issuing a
permit, certificate, or other authorization for the construction of
housing for older persons, to require that the construction plan provides
for the requirements for housing for older persons as defined in SECTION
1 of this Act. 

SECTION 3. Amends Article 1446d, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 3 and
renumbering  the subsequent section, as follows: 

Sec.  3.  Prohibits an apartment house owner or mobile home park owner who
provides housing for older persons pursuant to this Act from being
considered a wholesale utility customer. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.