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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority to establish a customer assistance |
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program for certain municipally owned utilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 552.916 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.916. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AUTHORITY FOR |
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CERTAIN UTILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a board of |
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trustees described by Section 1502.070(a)(2)(B), Government Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any limitation provided by a home-rule |
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charter or any other policy of a municipal governing body, a board |
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of trustees has the exclusive authority to establish a bill payment |
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assistance program for its utility system's customers: |
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(1) who received notice of disconnection of service |
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for nonpayment of bills; or |
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(2) whom the utility determines are low-income |
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customers. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |