SRC-JEC S.B. 1330 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1330
77R6048 MTB-FBy: Brown, J. E. "Buster"
Natural Resources
4/12/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Submetering is a more accurate way of measuring water consumption in
multifamily housing than simply dividing the water bill.  Older plumbing
fixtures are less efficient than more modern ones.  As proposed, S.B. 1330
requires owners of certain multifamily housing structures to use
submetering to measure the quantity of water consumed by occupants of an
individual unit.  It also requires owners of certain housing structures to
install higher efficiency plumbing fixtures in units that are not
individually monitored for water use. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 13.502, Water Code) and
SECTION 2 (Section 13.506, Water Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 13.502, Water Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(commission) to by rule require an owner of an apartment house on which
construction begins on or after January 1, 2003, and other facility or
structure owners to submeter each dwelling unit or rental unit for the
measurement of the quantity of water, if any, consumed by the occupants of
that unit.  Deletes text authorizing the owners or a condominium manager to
provide for the submetering of the units. 

(b) Authorizes an owner of an apartment house on which construction began
before January 1, 2003, and a condominium manager to provide for
submetering of each dwelling unit or rental unit for the measurement of the
quantity of water, if any, consumed by the occupants of that unit. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 13M, Water Code, by adding Section 13.506, as
follows: 

 Sec. 13.506.  PLUMBING FIXTURES.  (a) Defines "plumbing fixture."

(b) Requires the commission to by rule require an apartment house owner, a
manufactured home rental community owner, a multiple use facility owner, or
a condominium manager to install plumbing fixtures that meet certain
standards in the dwelling units and rental units that are not individually
metered. 

SECTION 3.   (a) Effective date: September 1, 2001, for SECTION 1 of this
Act. 
       Effective date: January 1, 2003, for SECTION 2 of this Act.

(b) Requires the commission to adopt rules to implement this Act not later
than January 1, 2002.