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.