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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement that certain water service providers |
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ensure emergency operations during an extended power outage. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.1395(a)(1), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) "Affected utility" means a retail public utility, |
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exempt utility, or provider or conveyor of potable or raw water |
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service that furnishes water service to more than one customer: |
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(A) in a county with a population of 3.3 million |
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or more; or |
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(B) in a county with a population of 350,000 |
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[400,000] or more adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 |
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million or more. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than November 1, 2011, each |
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affected utility described by Section 13.1395(a)(1)(B), Water |
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Code, as amended by this Act, shall submit the information required |
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by Section 13.1396, Water Code, to: |
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(1) each appropriate county judge and office of |
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emergency management; |
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(2) the Public Utility Commission of Texas; and |
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(3) the division of emergency management of the |
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governor. |
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(b) Not later than February 1, 2012, each affected utility |
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described by Section 13.1395(a)(1)(B), Water Code, as amended by |
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this Act, shall submit to the Texas Commission on Environmental |
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Quality the emergency preparedness plan required by Section |
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13.1395, Water Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(c) Not later than June 1, 2012, each affected utility |
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described by Section 13.1395(a)(1)(B), Water Code, as amended by |
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this Act, shall implement the emergency preparedness plan approved |
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by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under Section |
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13.1395, Water Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(d) An affected utility described by Section |
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13.1395(a)(1)(B), Water Code, as amended by this Act, may file with |
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the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality a written request for |
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an extension, not to exceed 90 days, of the date by which the |
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affected utility is required under Subsection (b) of this section |
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to submit the affected utility's emergency preparedness plan or of |
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the date by which the affected utility is required under Subsection |
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(c) of this section to implement the affected utility's emergency |
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preparedness plan. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
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shall approve the requested extension for good cause shown. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2011. |