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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to consolidated billing and collection of fees and |
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payments of certain sewer service corporations and water supply |
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corporations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 13.146 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.146. CONSOLIDATED BILLING AND COLLECTION |
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CONTRACTS. (a) A retail public utility providing water service may |
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contract with a retail public utility providing sewer service to |
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bill and collect the sewer service provider's fees and payments as |
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part of a consolidated process with the billing and collection of |
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the water service provider's fees and payments. The water service |
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provider may provide that service only for customers who are served |
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by both providers in an area covered by both providers' |
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certificates of public convenience and necessity. If the water |
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service provider refuses to enter into a contract under this |
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section or if the water service provider and sewer service provider |
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cannot agree on the terms of a contract, the sewer service provider |
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may petition the commission to issue an order requiring the water |
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service provider to provide that service. |
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(b) A contract or order under this section must provide |
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procedures and deadlines for submitting billing and customer |
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information to the water service provider and for the delivery of |
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collected fees and payments to the sewer service provider. |
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(c) A contract or order under this section may require or |
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permit a water service provider that provides consolidated billing |
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and collection of fees and payments to: |
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(1) terminate the water services of a person whose |
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sewage services account is in arrears for nonpayment; and |
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(2) charge a customer a reconnection fee if the |
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customer's water service is terminated for nonpayment of the |
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customer's sewage services account. |
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(d) A water service provider that provides consolidated |
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billing and collection of fees and payments may impose on each sewer |
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service provider customer a reasonable fee to recover costs |
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associated with providing consolidated billing and collection of |
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fees and payments for sewage services. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |