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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the water pressure standards for fire hydrants in |
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certain municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 341.0357(b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), |
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Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 861 (H.B. 1391), Acts of |
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the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, are amended to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) The regulatory authority for a public utility shall by |
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rule or ordinance adopt standards for maintaining sufficient water |
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pressure for service to fire hydrants adequate to protect public |
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safety in residential areas in a municipality with a population of |
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10,000 [1,000,000] or more. |
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(c) The commission shall assess residential areas in a |
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municipality with a population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more to |
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ensure that: |
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(1) the regulatory authority for the area has adopted |
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the standards required by this section; and |
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(2) all public utilities serving the residential area |
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are complying with the standards required by this section. |
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(d) The commission shall require a municipality with a |
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population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more and acting as a regulatory |
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authority to make appropriate revisions to standards the commission |
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considers to be inadequate within a reasonable time established by |
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the commission. |
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(e) The commission shall require a public utility in |
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violation of a standard required under this section and established |
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by the commission or by a municipality with a population of 10,000 |
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[1,000,000] or more and acting as a regulatory authority to comply |
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with the standard within a reasonable time established by the |
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commission. |
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(f) This section does not limit the authority of a |
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municipality with a population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more and |
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acting as a regulatory authority to prohibit a public utility in |
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violation of a standard established by the municipality from |
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recovering through the public utility's rates a penalty or fine |
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incurred for a violation of a standard. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |