By:  Duncan                                           S.B. No. 1637

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to operation of municipal drainage, utility systems, and

 1-2     the method of establishing drainage charges for such systems.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 402.047, Local Government

 1-5     Code is amended to read as follows:

 1-6           In setting the schedule of charges for drainage service, the

 1-7     governing body must base its calculations on an inventory of the

 1-8     lots and tracts within the service area.  The governing body may

 1-9     use approved tax plats and assessment rolls for that purpose.  The

1-10     governing body may also consider the land use made of the

1-11     benefitted property.  The governing body may consider the size, in

1-12     area, the number of water meters, and topography of a parcel of

1-13     benefitted property in assessing the drainage charge to the

1-14     property.

1-15           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.