By Farabee                                            H.B. No. 2497
         76R7542 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the collection of trash or solid waste in the
 1-3     unincorporated area of a county.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 240, Local Government Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 240.906 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 240.906.  COUNTY TRASH AND SOLID WASTE COLLECTION.  (a)
 1-8     The commissioners court of a county may contract with another
 1-9     entity for the collection of trash or solid waste in all or a
1-10     designated portion of the unincorporated area of a county.  The
1-11     commissioners court must use the competitive bidding process in the
1-12     award of a contract under this subsection.
1-13           (b)  A commissioners court contracting under Subsection (a)
1-14     shall provide by order:
1-15                 (1)  whether trash or solid waste collection contracted
1-16     for under Subsection (a) is voluntary or mandatory for persons or
1-17     businesses in the affected area; and
1-18                 (2)  a method of charging persons or businesses for the
1-19     cost of collection of trash or solid waste in the affected area.
1-20           (c)  A commissioners court may contract with an electric
1-21     utility that serves the area in which trash or solid waste
1-22     collection is provided to collect the fee charged under Subsection
1-23     (b)(2) in conjunction with an electric bill.  The contract may
1-24     provide for an additional fee to cover the costs of the electric
 2-1     utility in collecting the fee.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.