By Gallego H.B. No. 630 76R3882 DWS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the purposes and powers of an electric cooperative 1-3 corporation serving a border county. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Utilities Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 161.126 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 161.126. ADDITIONAL PURPOSES AND POWERS OF ELECTRIC 1-8 COOPERATIVE SERVING BORDER COUNTIES. (a) This section applies 1-9 only to an electric cooperative that serves retail customers in a 1-10 county that is contiguous to an international border. 1-11 (b) In addition to the purposes and powers otherwise 1-12 provided by this chapter, an electric cooperative to which this 1-13 section applies that complies with all requirements of a public 1-14 utility under Chapter 13, Water Code, may provide, directly or 1-15 through an affiliate, the following activities within any portion 1-16 of the electric cooperative's service area: 1-17 (1) rural community utility and utility-related 1-18 services, including water and sewer services, Internet services, 1-19 and telephone answering services, but not including 1-20 telecommunications services governed by Subtitle C, Title 2, or 1-21 electricity; 1-22 (2) management or operating services to or for another 1-23 electric cooperative or another entity engaged in purposes 1-24 authorized by Section 161.122; and 2-1 (3) economic and industrial development promotion 2-2 through participation as a borrower or lender under a federal 2-3 program. 2-4 (c) The electric cooperative has all powers, including the 2-5 power to borrow money, necessary or appurtenant to the purposes and 2-6 powers provided by Subsection (b). 2-7 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-12 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-13 passage, and it is so enacted.