86R6079 JXC-F
 
  By: Perez H.B. No. 1506
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to authorizing a regulatory authority to establish reduced
  water and sewer utility rates funded by donations for the benefit of
  certain low-income customers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 13.182, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2) to read as
  follows:
         (b-1)  In establishing a utility's rates, the regulatory
  authority may authorize the utility to establish reduced water and
  sewer rates for a minimal level of service to be provided solely to
  a class of [elderly] customers who are 65 years of age or older, who
  receive medical assistance under the medical assistance program
  established under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or who receive
  benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program
  established under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, to ensure that
  those customers receive that level of service at more affordable
  rates.  The regulatory authority may establish requirements for
  determining the eligibility of customers to receive reduced rates
  under this subsection.
         (b-2)  The regulatory authority shall allow a utility to
  establish a fund to receive donations to recover the costs of
  providing the reduced rates under Subsection (b-1).  A utility may
  not recover those costs through charges to the utility's other
  customer classes.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act to
  Section 13.182, Water Code, apply only to proceedings before a
  regulatory authority regarding rates concerning an application
  filed on or after January 1, 2020. Proceedings before a regulatory
  authority regarding rates concerning an application filed before
  January 1, 2020, are governed by the law in effect when the
  application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         (b)  The Public Utility Commission of Texas and other
  regulatory authorities shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
  the changes in law made by this Act not later than December 31,
  2019.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.