HBA-CBW H.B. 924 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 924
By: Walker
Land & Resource Management
2/23/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a district or water supply corporation (corporation) is not
authorized to require an applicant or developer, as a condition for
service, to grant or provide a permanent recorded easement to a district or
corporation.  Occasionally, a district or corporation is required to move
lines in response to road projects, resulting in significant costs that may
be passed on to customers through higher rates.  House Bill 924 authorizes
a district or corporation to require a service applicant or developer, as a
condition for service, to grant or provide a permanent recorded easement to
a district or corporation for specified purposes. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 924 amends the Water Code to authorize a water district
(district) or water supply corporation (corporation) to require an
applicant for service to grant, as a condition for service, a permanent
recorded easement that is dedicated to the district or corporation and will
provide a reasonable right of access and use to allow the district or
corporation to construct, install, maintain, replace, upgrade, inspect, or
test any facility necessary to serve that applicant as well as other
customers of the district or corporation.  As a condition of service to a
new subdivision, the bill authorizes a district or corporation to require a
developer to provide permanent recorded easements to and throughout the
subdivision adequate for the construction, installation, maintenance,
replacement, upgrade, inspection, or test of any facility necessary to
serve anticipated demands. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.