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  H.B. No. 965
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of a retail public water utility to
  require an operator of a correctional facility to comply with water
  conservation measures.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 13.1461 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.1461.  CORRECTIONAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE WITH
  CONSERVATION MEASURES. (a)  This section applies only to a
  correctional facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice or operated under contract with that department.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a retail public
  utility may require the operator of a correctional facility that
  receives retail water or sewer utility service from the retail
  public utility to comply with water conservation measures adopted
  or implemented by the retail public utility.
         (c)  A correctional facility is not required to comply with a
  water conservation measure under Subsection (b) if the operator of
  the correctional facility submits to the retail public utility a
  written statement from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
  that states that the measure would endanger health and safety at the
  facility or unreasonably increase the costs of operating the
  facility.
         (d)  If a retail public utility suspends a water conservation
  measure and later implements the same measure, the operator of a
  correctional facility that received an exemption from the original
  measure under Subsection (c) must submit a new written statement
  from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to obtain an
  exemption under Subsection (c) from the newly implemented measure.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 965 was passed by the House on April
  26, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 5, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 965 was passed by the Senate on May
  19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor