BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 425
79R4034 QS-D By: Hinojosa
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law regulating colonias is only applicable to counties within 50 miles of the border. As proposed, S.B. 425 allows a county that is located within 150 miles of an international border and that contains a city with a population of more than 250,000 to:
(1) prevent future substandard housing from springing up ;
(2) receive the assistance of a colonia ombudsman; and
(3) be eligible for EDAP (economically distressed areas program) funds from the state. S.B. 425 gives an affected county the power to approve plats in unincorporated areas of the county.
This power allows a county to prevent unscrupulous developers from taking advantage of homeowners who are often left without paved roads or basic services such as running water, sewer lines, or electricity. S.B. 425 amends Subchapter B, Chapter 232, Local Government Code, which was passed in the mid-1990s and gave border counties the power to enforce minimum standards for solid waste, water, and waste water services.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 212.012(c), (e), and (f), Local Government Code, as follows:
(c) Authorize an entity described by Subsection (b) to serve or connect land with water, sewer, electricity, gas, or other utility service regardless of whether the entity is presented with or otherwise holds a certificate applicable to the land issued under Section 212.0115 if the municipal authority responsible for approving plats issues a certificate stating that the land was sold or conveyed to the person requesting service by any means of conveyance, including a contract for deed or executory contract, before September 1, 1995, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(1); or September 1, 2005, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2). Adds provisions for actions taken on or before May 1, 1997 by counties defined under Section 232.022(a)(1) or September 1, 2005, for counties defined under Section 232.022(a)(2).
(e) Make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
(f) Make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 232.022(a), Local Government, to provide that this subchapter is applicable to a county that meets certain requirements.
SECTION 3. Amends the heading to Section 232.029, Local Government Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 232.029. CONNECTION OF UTILITIES IN COUNTIES WITHIN 50 MILES OF INTERNATIONAL BORDER.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 232.029, Local Government Code, by relettering Subsection (a) as Subsection (a-1) and adding a new Subsection (a) to provide that this section only applies to a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(1).
SECTION 5. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 232, Local Government Code, by adding Section 232.0291, to read as follows:
Sec. 2320291. CONNECTION OF UTILITIES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES WITHIN 150 MILES OF INTERNATIONAL BORDER. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2).
(b) Prohibits a utility, except as provided by Subsection (d) or Section 232.037(c), from serving or connecting any subdivided land with water or sewer services unless the utility receives a certificate issued by the commissioners court under Section 232.028(a) or receives a determination from the commissioners court under Section 232.028(b)(1) that the plat has been reviewed and approved by the commissioners court.
(c) Prohibits a utility, except as provided by Subsection (d) or Section 232.037(c), from serving or connecting any subdivided land with electricity or gas unless the entity receives a determination from the county commissioners court under Section 232.028(b)(2) that adequate water and sewer services have been installed to service the subdivision.
(d) Authorizes an electric, gas, water, or sewer service utility to serve or connect subdivided land with water, sewer, electricity, gas, or other utility service regardless of whether the utility receives a certificate issued by the commissioners court under Section 232.028(b), if the utility is provided with a certificate issued by the commissioners court that meets certain requirements.
(e) Authorizes a utility to provide service to subdivided land described by Subsection (d)(1) only if the person requesting the service meets certain requirements.
(f) Provides that a person requesting service may obtain a certificate under Subsection (d)(1) only if the person provides to the commissioners court certain documentation.
(g) Provides that a person requesting service may obtain a certificate under Subsection (d)(2) only if the person provides to the commissioners court an affidavit that states that property was not sold or conveyed to that person from a subdivider or the subdivider's agent after September 1, 2005.
(h) Requires the commissioners court, on request, to provide to the attorney general and any appropriate local, county, or state law enforcement official a copy of any document on which the commissioners court relied in determining the legality of providing service.
(i) Prohibits this section from being construed to abrogate any civil or criminal proceeding or prosecution or to waive any penalty against a subdivider for a violation of a state or local law, regardless of the date on which the violation was committed.
(j) Provides that the prohibition established by this section does not prohibit an electric or gas utility from providing electric or gas utility connection or service to a lot that meets certain requirements.
(j) Defines "foundation."
SECTION 6. Amends Section 232.031, Local Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) to make an exception as provided by Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(d) Prohibits a subdivider, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2), from selling or leasing land in a subdivision first platted or replatted after September 1, 2005, unless the subdivision plat is approved by the commissioners court in accordance with Section 232.024.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 232.038, Local Government Code, to add an exception as provided by Subsection (b) and to authorize a person, if the lot is located in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2), to only bring suit under Subsection (a) if the person purchased or is purchasing the lot after September 1, 2005.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 232.040(e), Local Government Code, to provide that an existing utility that must be platted or replatted under this section may not be terminated under Section 232.0291.
SECTION 9. Amends Section 232.043(b), Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court, if the commissioners court makes a written finding that the subdivider who created the unplatted subdivision no longer owns property in the subdivision, to grant a delay or variance under this section only if a majority of lots in the subdivision were sold before September 1, 1995, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(1) or September 1, 2005, in a county defined under Section 232.022(a)(2).
SECTION 10. Amends Section 232.106, Local Government Code, to authorize the commissioners court to, by an adopted order and entered into the minutes of the commissioners court, and after a notice is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, impose the requirements of Section 232.0291.
SECTION 11. Amends Section 775.001(2), Government Code, to redefine "colonia."
SECTION 12. Amends Section 775.003, Government Code, to authorize the colonia initiatives coordinator to appoint a colonia ombudsman in each additional county any part of which is within 150 miles of an international border and that contains a municipality with a population of more than 250,000.
SECTION 13, Amends Section 37.153, Utilities Code, to require a certificate holder to refuse to serve a customer in the holder's certificated area if the holder is prohibited from providing the service under Section 232.0291, Local Government Code.
SECTION 14. Amends Section 54.254, Utilities Code, to require a holder of a certificate of conveyance and necessity, a certificate of operating authority, or a service provider certificate of operating authority, to refuse to serve a customer in the holder's certificated area if the holder is prohibited from providing the service under Section 232.0291, Local Government Code.
SECTION 15. Amends Section 17.923, Water Code, to require that to be eligible for financial assistance under this subchapter a county must be located in whole or in part within 150 miles of an international border and contain a municipality with a population of more than 250,000.
SECTION 16. Effective date: September 1, 2005.