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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to designation of certain customer bill payment assistance |
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program costs as an expense of operation that is a first lien |
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against revenue securing certain public securities or obligations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 1502.056, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If the revenue of a utility system, park, or swimming |
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pool secures the payment of public securities issued or obligations |
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incurred under this chapter, each expense of operation and |
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maintenance, including all salaries, labor, materials, interest, |
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repairs and extensions necessary to provide efficient service, and |
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each proper item of expense, is a first lien against that revenue. |
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For a municipality with a population of more than one million, the |
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first lien against the revenue of a municipally owned electric or |
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gas utility system that secures the payment of public securities |
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issued or obligations incurred under this chapter also applies to |
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funding, as a necessary operations expense, for a bill payment |
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assistance program for utility system customers who have been |
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threatened with disconnection from service for nonpayment of bills |
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and who have been determined by the municipality to be low-income |
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customers. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |