By: Parker, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 3714

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2019; May 7, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation; May 16, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 16, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3714 By: Hancock

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of street lights along county roads in the unincorporated area of certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 280.003, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 280.003. STREET LIGHTS ON COUNTY ROADS [IN SUBDIVISION LOCATED] IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.

SECTION 2. Section 280.003, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county:

(1) that has any of its territory located within 150 miles of an international boundary;

(2) with a population of more than 650,000 that is adjacent to two counties, each of which has a population of more than 1.8 million; or

(3) with a population of more than 3.3 million.

(b) The commissioners court of a county may by order provide for the establishment of street lights along a county road [located in a subdivision]. The order may provide for:

(1) the installation, operation, and maintenance of the street lights by:

(A) the county; or

(B) another public or private entity with which the county may contract;

(2) the imposition of a fee on landowners [in the subdivision] who benefit from the street lights;

(3) the collection of a fee imposed under this subsection by the county tax assessor-collector; and

(4) any other matter the commissioners court finds necessary to the installation, operation, or maintenance of the street lights.

(b-1) Street lights installed by a county:

(1) must be installed in a subdivision if the lights are installed by a county described by Subsection (a)(1); and

(2) may not be located on private property if the lights are installed by a county described by Subsection (a)(2) or (3).

(c) This section does not supersede applicable provisions for street light service contained in the tariff of an electric utility that provides service to the area in which the lights are installed [to the subdivision].

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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