75R12718 JMC-F                           

         By Giddings                                           H.B. No. 2946

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2946:

         By Turner of Coleman                              C.S.H.B. No. 2946

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the establishment or extension of a municipal water

 1-3     system in certain water districts.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter L, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Section 49.352 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 49.352.  MUNICIPAL SYSTEM IN UNSERVED AREA.  (a)  This

 1-8     section applies only to a home-rule municipality that:

 1-9                 (1)  is located in a county with a population of more

1-10     than 1.75 million that is adjacent to a county with a population of

1-11     more than 1 million; and

1-12                 (2)  has within its boundaries a part of a district.

1-13           (b)  If a district does not establish a fire department under

1-14     this subchapter, a municipality that contains a part of the

1-15     district inside its boundaries may by ordinance or resolution

1-16     provide that a water system be constructed or extended into the

1-17     area that is in both the municipality and the district for the

1-18     delivery of potable water that is sufficient to support the

1-19     placement of fire hydrants and the connection of the water system

1-20     to fire suppression equipment.

1-21           (c)  For purposes of this section, a municipality may obtain

1-22     single certification in the manner provided by Section 13.255,

1-23     Water Code, except that the municipality may file an application

1-24     with the commission to grant single certification immediately after

 2-1     the municipality provides notice of intent to provide service as

 2-2     required by Section 13.255(b), Water Code.

 2-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.