By: West S.B. No. 654
 
  (Anchia)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the enforcement of water conservation and animal care
  and control ordinances of a municipality by civil action or
  quasi-judicial enforcement; providing civil penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 54.012, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.012.  CIVIL ACTION. A municipality may bring a civil
  action for the enforcement of an ordinance:
               (1)  for the preservation of public safety, relating to
  the materials or methods used to construct a building or other
  structure or improvement, including the foundation, structural
  elements, electrical wiring or apparatus, plumbing and fixtures,
  entrances, or exits;
               (2)  relating to the preservation of public health or
  to the fire safety of a building or other structure or improvement,
  including provisions relating to materials, types of construction
  or design, interior configuration, illumination, warning devices,
  sprinklers or other fire suppression devices, availability of water
  supply for extinguishing fires, or location, design, or width of
  entrances or exits;
               (3)  for zoning that provides for the use of land or
  classifies a parcel of land according to the municipality's
  district classification scheme;
               (4)  establishing criteria for land subdivision or
  construction of buildings, including provisions relating to street
  width and design, lot size, building width or elevation, setback
  requirements, or utility service specifications or requirements;
               (5)  implementing civil penalties under this
  subchapter for conduct classified by statute as a Class C
  misdemeanor;
               (6)  relating to dangerously damaged or deteriorated
  structures or improvements;
               (7)  relating to conditions caused by accumulations of
  refuse, vegetation, or other matter that creates breeding and
  living places for insects and rodents;
               (8)  relating to the interior configuration, design,
  illumination, or visibility of business premises exhibiting for
  viewing by customers while on the premises live or mechanically or
  electronically displayed entertainment intended to provide sexual
  stimulation or sexual gratification; [or]
               (9)  relating to point source effluent limitations or
  the discharge of a pollutant, other than from a non-point source,
  into a sewer system, including a sanitary or storm water sewer
  system, owned or controlled by the municipality;
               (10)  relating to animal care and control; or
               (11)  relating to water conservation measures,
  including watering restrictions.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.032, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.032.  ORDINANCES SUBJECT TO QUASI-JUDICIAL
  ENFORCEMENT. This subchapter applies only to ordinances:
               (1)  for the preservation of public safety, relating to
  the materials or methods used to construct a building or
  improvement, including the foundation, structural elements,
  electrical wiring or apparatus, plumbing and fixtures, entrances,
  or exits;
               (2)  relating to the fire safety of a building or
  improvement, including provisions relating to materials, types of
  construction or design, warning devices, sprinklers or other fire
  suppression devices, availability of water supply for
  extinguishing fires, or location, design, or width of entrances or
  exits;
               (3)  relating to dangerously damaged or deteriorated
  buildings or improvements;
               (4)  relating to conditions caused by accumulations of
  refuse, vegetation, or other matter that creates breeding and
  living places for insects and rodents; [or]
               (5)  relating to a building code or to the condition,
  use, or appearance of property in a municipality;
               (6)  relating to animal care and control; or
               (7)  relating to water conservation measures,
  including watering restrictions.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a violation of a municipal ordinance that occurs on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.