BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3777

By: Krause

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the cancellation of electric utility services for residents with a chronic condition or critical care status designation due to unpaid utility bills. It has been suggested that these residents need protection against such cancellation to ensure the continuation of this critical service needed to sustain life or prevent impairment of a major life function. H.B. 3777 seeks to address this issue by ensuring that these unpaid electric bills will be an obligation of the individual's estate.

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. 3777 amends the Estates Code to specify that, for purposes of presentment and payment of claims against an estate, the funeral expenses and expenses of the decedent's last illness which constitute the claims category that has first priority of payment include claims for the cost of electrical service provided to the decedent if the decedent had been designated as a critical care residential customer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.