BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2374
International Relations & Trade
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) historically has not funded construction of service connections on private property for TWDB-funded water and wastewater projects under the Economically Distressed Areas Program, because of the constitutional limitation on the use of public bonds for private benefit. However, customers needing services often cannot afford the cost to connect their residences to the public water or wastewater project. Should the community not be able to afford the private hook-ups, the public investment associated with the project to build the collection, distribution, and treatment facilities may not be usable until the community can obtain additional funding from some other source to make the final service connections to the individual residences. Consequently, the public purpose of the Economically Distressed Areas Program, to eliminate unsanitary water and wastewater conditions and the public health threats associated with those conditions, remains unmet and unresolved.
H.B. 2374 relates to financing of water and wastewater connections and plumbing improvements in economically distressed areas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter K, Chapter 17, Water Code, by adding Section 17.923, as follows:
Sec. 17.923. RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING ASSISTANCE. (a) Provides that among the public purposes served by this subchapter, the legislature hereby declares that it is in the public interest to protect public health and sanitation by providing financial assistance for the costs associated with first-time connection of public water supply and sanitary sewer services to residences otherwise benefiting from financial assistance under this subchapter.
(b) Authorizes a political subdivision to use money from financial assistance under this subchapter to pay certain costs or fees.
(c) Authorizes a political subdivision to only use the money under Subsection (b) to provide financial assistance to a United States citizen.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.