BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 467
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Harris County and adjacent counties have economically distressed areas that are severely lacking in adequate water and sewer services. Most of these residential users live daily under substandard conditions dependant on water wells which are contaminated. Septic systems are leaching into the water table, adding further contamination of the drinking water.
H.B. 467 provides for these areas to be eligible for grant or bond assistance under Chapters 16 (Provisions Generally Applicable to Water Development) and 17 (Public Funding), Water Code.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 15, Water Code, by adding Section 15.009, as follows:
Sec. 15.009. ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. Provides that, notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, Chapter 16, or Chapter 17, a county with a population of three million or more or a county with a population of 350,000 or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of three million or more is eligible for any financial assistance available under this chapter, Chapter 16, or Chapter 17 for providing water and sewer services, connections to water and sewer services, and any other assistance related to water and sewer services in economically distressed areas of the county.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 16.343(f) and (g), Water Code, as follows:
(f) Authorizes, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a county described in Section 15.009 to adopt the model rules to assure that minimum standards for safe and sanitary water supply and sewer services in residential areas of political subdivisions.
(g) Authorizes a county described by Section 15.009 to limit the applicability of the model rules to the portion of the county for which the application is made.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter K, Chapter 17, Water Code, by adding Section 17.9345, as follows:
Sec. 17.9345. SEWER CONNECTIONS IN MUNICIPALITIES IN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. (a) Requires a municipality, on request of an owner or occupant of land located in a municipality on which a new residential structure is being constructed and that is adjacent to a street, to provide sewer service connections on both sides of the street.
(b) Requires the cost of providing sewer service connections under Subsection (a) to be borne by the municipality.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.