BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1573

By: Price

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a water loss auditor should possess a certain level of understanding of water utility systems and other relevant knowledge. C.S.H.B. 1573 seeks to address this issue by setting out personnel training requirements for water loss auditors.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Water Development Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1573 amends the Water Code to require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) by rule to require a retail public utility's water loss audit to be completed by a person trained to conduct water loss auditing. The bill requires the TWDB to make training on water loss auditing available without charge from the TWDB website. The bill authorizes the TWDB to provide training in person or by video or a functionally similar and widely available medium. The bill requires such training to include comprehensive knowledge of water utility systems and terminology and any tools available for analyzing audit results. The bill authorizes the TWDB to consider other organizations' training programs in creating training materials.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1573 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 16.0121, Water Code, is amended by adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows: (i)  The board by rule shall require the audits required by Subsections (b) and (b-1) to be completed by a person trained to conduct water loss auditing. (j)  The board by rule shall establish training standards for certified water loss auditors for the purposes of this section.  A certified water loss auditor must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of water utility systems and terminology and any tools available for analyzing audit results.  The board may, in creating training standards, consider other organizations' programs.	SECTION 1.  Section 16.0121, Water Code, is amended by adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows: (i)  The board by rule shall require the audits required by Subsections (b) and (b-1) to be completed by a person trained to conduct water loss auditing. (j)  The board shall make training on water loss auditing available without charge from the board's website.  The board may provide training in person or by video or a functionally similar and widely available medium.  Training provided under this subsection must include comprehensive knowledge of water utility systems and terminology and any tools available for analyzing audit results.  In creating training materials, the board may consider other organizations' training programs.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.