BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1797
By: Janek
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law only private contractors, and not counties, may provide garbage pickup in unincorporated areas. Galveston County is experiencing difficulties in arranging for a private contractor to provide service on Bolivar Peninsula because of the peninsula's location.
As proposed, S.B. 1797 allows the county to provide garbage pickup service and charge a fee for that service.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 364, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 364.0341, as follows:
Sec. 364.0341. SERVICES IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) Provides that in order to help provide for the public health and safety of its citizens and in order to help deter the dumping of litter, garbage, refuse, building materials, and other matter on state-owned public beaches and adjoining sand dunes, the commissioners court of certain counties are authorized to undertake certain actions relating to solid waste services.
(b) Authorizes certain entities to collect a fee for a service provided under this section.
(c) Authorizes a county to contract with a public or private utility to collect a fee for a service provided under this section. Authorizes the contract to contain certain terms relating to fees or as agreed to by the parties.
(d) Authorizes certain actions to aid enforcement of the fee collection for the solid waste disposal service.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.