This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.
79R1877 SGA-F
By: Flores H.B. No. 1358
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality over certain water supply or sewer service
corporations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 13.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.004. JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION OVER CERTAIN WATER
SUPPLY OR SEWER SERVICE CORPORATIONS. (a) Notwithstanding any
other law, the commission has the same jurisdiction over a water
supply or sewer service corporation that the commission has under
this chapter over a water and sewer utility if the commission finds
that the water supply or sewer service corporation is:
(1) charging rates that are not fair, just, or
reasonable; or
(2) providing services that are not adequate or
efficient.
(b) The commission may exercise jurisdiction under this
section only after conducting an investigation and a hearing based
on the receipt of a verified complaint from a municipality
receiving service from the water supply or sewer service
corporation or a customer or other person affected by the rates or
services of the corporation.
(c) If the water supply or sewer service corporation
voluntarily converts to a special utility district operating under
Chapter 65, the commission's jurisdiction provided by this section
ends.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a complaint regarding the rates or services of a water supply or
sewer service corporation received by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.