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