SRC-MWN H.B. 987 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 987
By: Oliveira (Truan)
Natural Resources
4/25/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Some areas in Texas lack trash disposal service or offer this service at
costs unaffordable to many residents. Consequently, residents bury, burn,
or dump their trash illegally, creating a threat to public health and
safety. Provisions under the Health and Safety Code give counties the
authority to regulate trash collection service in unincorporated areas. In
many cases, an effective mechanism to collect user fees associated with
this service is lacking. H.B 987 provides these economically distressed
counties the authority to require the local water supply or sewer service
corporation to collect solid waste disposal fees.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 364C, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
364.0345, as follows: 

Sec. 364.0345. COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE FEES BY WATER
CORPORATIONS SERVING ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. (a) Defines "water
supply or sewer service corporation." 

(b) Authorizes a county that is eligible for financial assistance under
Section 17.923 (County Eligibility for Financial Assistance), Water Code,
to contract with a water supply or sewer service corporation serving an
area of the county to collect for the county the solid waste disposal
service fees for solid waste disposal services provided in that area by the
county. Requires the county to compensate the corporation for the actual
cost of collecting the fees and authorizes the county to use the fees to
pay the compensation. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.