1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the regulation of private sewage facilities; providing
 1-3     a criminal penalty.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 7.173, Water Code, is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           Sec. 7.173.  VIOLATION RELATING TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL [NEAR
 1-8     INTERNATIONAL BORDER].  (a)  A person commits an offense if the
 1-9     person violates a rule adopted by the commission under Chapter 366,
1-10     Health and Safety Code, or an order or resolution adopted by an
1-11     authorized agent under Subchapter C, Chapter 366, Health and Safety
1-12     Code[, in a county that is contiguous to an international border].
1-13           (b)  Except as provided by this subsection, an offense under
1-14     this section is a Class C misdemeanor.  If it is shown on the trial
1-15     of the defendant that the defendant has been previously convicted
1-16     of an offense under this section, the offense is punishable under
1-17     Section 7.187(1)(A) or Section 7.187(2)(A) or both.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-19           SECTION 3.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
1-20     only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
1-21     Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
1-22     the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
1-23     before that date.
1-24           (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this
 2-1     Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
 2-2     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-3           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1654 was passed by the House on April
         16, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1654 on May 26, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1654 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor