BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1633

By: Rodriguez, Justin

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that low-income families who may be eligible for certain bill payment assistance programs must have been threatened with disconnection from service for nonpayment as a condition of eligibility to participate in the programs. H.B. 1633 seeks to address this issue by removing the threat of service disconnection for nonpayment as a condition of eligibility for applicable bill payment assistance programs offered by certain municipalities.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1633 amends the Government Code to remove as a condition of eligibility for certain bill payment assistance programs offered by a municipality with a population of more than one million but less than two million that a utility system customer who has been determined by the municipality to be a low-income customer also has been threatened with disconnection from service for nonpayment of bills.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.