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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electric utility bill payment assistance programs for |
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certain veterans burned in combat. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1502.056, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) If the revenue of a utility system, park, or swimming |
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pool secures the payment of public securities issued or obligations |
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incurred under this chapter, each expense of operation and |
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maintenance, including all salaries, labor, materials, interest, |
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repairs and extensions necessary to provide efficient service, and |
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each proper item of expense, is a first lien against that revenue. |
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(a-1) For a municipality with a population of more than one |
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million but less than two million, the first lien against the |
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revenue of a municipally owned utility system that secures the |
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payment of public securities issued or obligations incurred under |
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this chapter also applies to funding, as a necessary operations |
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expense, for a bill payment assistance program for utility system |
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customers who[:
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[(1)] have been threatened with disconnection from |
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service for nonpayment of bills and who have been determined by the |
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municipality to be low-income customers. |
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(a-2) The first lien against the revenue of a municipally |
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owned electric utility system, including a system to which |
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Subsection (a-1) applies, that secures the payment of public |
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securities issued or obligations incurred under this chapter also |
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applies to funding, as a necessary operations expense, for a bill |
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payment assistance program for the electric utility system's |
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customers who[; or
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[(2)] are military veterans who have significantly |
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decreased abilities to regulate their bodies' core temperatures |
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because of severe burns received in combat. |
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SECTION 2. Section 36.061, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) An electric utility located in a portion of this state |
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not subject to retail competition may establish a bill payment |
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assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a |
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medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to |
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regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns |
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received in combat. A regulatory authority shall allow as a cost or |
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expense a cost or expense of the bill payment assistance program. |
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The electric utility is entitled to: |
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(1) fully recover all costs and expenses related to |
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the bill payment assistance program; |
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(2) defer each cost or expense related to the bill |
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payment assistance program not explicitly included in base rates; |
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and |
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(3) apply carrying charges at the utility's weighted |
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average cost of capital to the extent related to the bill payment |
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assistance program. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.359 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.359. BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR BURNED VETERANS. |
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(a) A retail electric provider may establish a bill payment |
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assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a |
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medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to |
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regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns |
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received in combat. |
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(b) The commission shall compile a list of programs |
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described by Subsection (a) that are available from retail electric |
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providers. The commission shall publish the list on the |
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commission's Internet website and the office shall provide on the |
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office's Internet website a link to the list. |
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(c) A retail electric provider shall provide to the |
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commission information necessary to compile the list in the form, |
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manner, and frequency the commission by rule requires. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 182, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR BURNED VETERANS |
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Sec. 182.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "electric |
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cooperative" and "municipally owned utility" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 11.003. |
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Sec. 182.202. BURNED VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) The |
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board of directors of an electric cooperative or the governing body |
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of a municipally owned utility may establish a bill payment |
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assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a |
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medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to |
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regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns |
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received in combat. |
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(b) The costs of a bill payment assistance program |
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established under Subsection (a) are considered a necessary |
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operations expense. |
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(c) The board of directors of an electric cooperative or the |
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governing body of a municipally owned utility may determine the |
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method to fund a bill payment assistance program established under |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2013. |