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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption for urban farms from payment for |
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wastewater service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 13.148 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.148. URBAN FARM WASTEWATER FEE EXEMPTION. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Community garden" means land gardened by a |
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cooperative group of people residing in a neighborhood or community |
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for the purpose of providing fresh produce for the benefit of the |
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residents of the neighborhood or community. |
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(2) "Urban farm" means land used to cultivate, |
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process, and distribute food in or near an urban area. The term |
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includes a food plot in a community garden, on an inner-city lot, or |
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on the property of a school, a fish farm, a municipal composting |
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facility, an apiary, a garden that provides food for local |
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restaurants, or an orchard in the yard of a residence. |
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(b) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, a |
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retail public utility may not receive compensation for wastewater |
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service provided to an owner or operator of an urban farm and used |
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by the owner or operator for purposes of the farm. |
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(c) The commission may develop standards to determine |
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whether a farm or garden qualifies as an urban farm or community |
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garden under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |