BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1063

79R415 JJT-D                                                                                                                   By: Staples

Natural Resources

4/8/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current Texas law, certain provisions of Chapter 13 (Water Rates and Services), Water Code, do not apply to a public utility that provided utility service in only 24 counties on January 1, 2003.  The provisions in effect before September 1, 2001, apply to this particular utility.  Currently, one utility is exempt from the various business and rate provisions outlined in Chapter 13.

As proposed, S.B. 1063 ensures that all retail water utilities operating in the state would adhere to provisions outlined in Chapter 13, Water Code.

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 10.08(a), Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, by providing that the changes in law made by this article to Chapter 13 (Water Rates and Services), Water Code, apply to a proceeding in which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has not issued a final order before September 1, 2001.  Deletes text referring to the previous effective date of the final order and the counties that are affected by those changes.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.