79R15322 MTB-F


By:  Leibowitz                                                    H.B. No. 2445

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2445:                                   

By:  Puente                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 2445



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to service by water and sewer utilities.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 13.137, Water Code, is amended by adding 
Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  A business location of a district created under Section 
59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, that includes a portion of the 
San Antonio River watershed and is located in a county with a 
population of more than one million must, at a minimum, remain open 
during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
excluding national and state holidays.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended 
by adding Section 13.146 to read as follows:
	Sec. 13.146.  DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE.  (a)  This section 
applies only to a district created under Section 59, Article XVI, 
Texas Constitution, that includes a portion of the San Antonio 
River watershed and is located in a county with a population of more 
than one million.
	(b)  A district may not disconnect service of a customer for 
late payment before the 31st day after the date the district 
notifies the customer of the overdue payment.
	(c)  After a disconnection caused by the customer's late 
payment, a district may not charge a customer a fee for restoring or 
reinstalling service that exceeds $25 or twice the amount of the 
late payment owed, whichever is less.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.