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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of utility usage information by governmental |
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entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Data |
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Electronic Limitations Act, DELTA. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 17.010. GOVERNMENTAL USAGE OF PRIVATE PERSON OR |
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PRIVATE ENTITY'S UTILITY USAGE INFORMATION. (a) In this section, |
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"governmental entity" includes: |
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(1) this state; |
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(2) a state agency; |
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(3) a county, municipality, or special district; or |
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(4) a combination of entities described by |
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Subdivisions (1)-(3). |
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(b) Other than gross usage of information to improve rate |
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standards, a governmental entity may not use information or devices |
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related to utility usage by a private person or business to |
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legislate to restrict usage. |
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(c) An independent organization certified under Section |
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39.151 may collect and store information for planning purposes, |
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provided that the information is not collected or stored in |
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association with the name of a private person. |
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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, 2013. |