BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 841
79R2944 CBH-F By: Kolkhorst (Wentworth)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Recreational vehicle (RV) parks and campground owners in Texas are experiencing a disparity in the water and wastewater rates they pay relative to rates charged to similar commercial entities within their communities. While some retail water utility rates are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, in other instances water and wastewater rates are set by cities. A problem occurs when cities view RV parks as "residential entities," instead of commercial entities like hotels and motels, in setting water and wastewater rates.
H.B. 841 eliminates the disparity in rates by requiring municipal utilities to use the same basis for determining water and wastewater rates for campgrounds and RV parks as they use for similar commercial entities, like hotels and motels.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 13, Water Code, by adding Section 13.087, as follows:
Sec. 13.087. MUNICIPAL RATES FOR CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS. (a) Defines "nonsubmetered master metered utility service," "recreational vehicle," and "recreational vehicle park."
(b) Requires a municipally owned utility that provides nonsubmetered master metered utility service to a recreational vehicle park to determine the rates for that service on the same basis the utility uses to determine the rates for other commercial businesses that serve transient customers and receive nonsubmetered master metered utility service from the utility.
(c) Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has jurisdiction to enforce this section.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.