BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3661
By: Turner, Sylvester (Gallegos)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Municipalities with a population of 1,000,000 or more, such as Houston, were recently required to adopt standards sufficient to maintain water pressure for service to fire hydrants adequate to protect public safety in residential areas. Some residential areas are not protected by fire hydrants.
H.B. 3661 requires the regulatory authority for a public utility to adopt standards for the installation of fire hydrants and maintenance of sufficient water pressure for service to such hydrants.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the regulatory authority for a public utility in SECTION 1 (Section 341.0357, Health and Safety Code) and SECTION 2 (Section 341.0358, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 341.0357(b), Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 861 (H.B. 1391), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, as follows:
(b) Requires the regulatory authority for a public utility, by rule or ordinance, to adopt standards for installing fire hydrants and maintaining sufficient water pressure for service to fire hydrants adequate to protect public safety in residential areas in a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 341.0358(b), Health and Safety Code, as follows:
(b) Requires the regulatory authority for a public utility, by rule or ordinance, to adopt standards for installing fire hydrants and maintaining sufficient water pressure for service to fire hydrants adequate to protect public safety in residential areas in a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more.
SECTION 3. (a) Provides that Section 1 of this Act takes effect only if S.B. 1969 or H.B. 3545 does not become law.
(b) Makes application of Section 2 of this Act contingent upon passage of S.B. 1969 or H.B. 3545.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2009.