SRC-MWN C.S.H.B. 987 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 987 77R14263 MI-DBy: Oliveira (Truan) Natural Resources 4/28/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B 987 provides these economically distressed counties the authority to contract with a public or private utility 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 Section 364.034, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 364.034. New heading: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE; FEES. (b) Authorizes a fee for a service provided under this section to be collected by certain entities. (c) Authorizes a county to contract with a public or private utility to collect a fee for a service provided under this section. Authorizes the contract to require or contain certain criteria. (d) Provides that to aid enforcement of fee collection for the solid waste disposal service certain entities are authorized to perform certain procedures. SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2002. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Differs from the As Filed H.B.987 version by replacing previously proposed Chapter 364C, Health and Safety Code, and replace proposed Section 364.034, Health and Safety Code. SECTION 2. New effective date.