S.B. No. 2272
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the procedure for amending or revoking certificates of
  public convenience and necessity issued to certain water utilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 13.254, Water Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.254.  DECERTIFICATION INITIATED BY UTILITY
  COMMISSION OR UTILITY; EXPEDITED RELEASE INITIATED BY LANDOWNER
  [REVOCATION OR AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE].
         SECTION 2.  Sections 13.254(a-2) and (d), Water Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-2)  A landowner is not entitled to file a petition under 
  [make the election described in] Subsection (a-1) or Section
  13.2541 [(a-5)] but is entitled to contest under Subsection (a) the
  involuntary certification of the landowner's [its] property in a
  hearing held by the utility commission if the landowner's property
  is located:
               (1)  in [within] the boundaries of any municipality or
  the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality with a
  population of more than 500,000 and the municipality or retail
  public utility owned by the municipality is the holder of the
  certificate; or
               (2)  in a platted subdivision actually receiving water
  or sewer service.
         (d)  A retail public utility may not in any way render retail
  water or sewer service directly or indirectly to the public in an
  area that has been decertified under this section unless just and
  adequate compensation required under Subsection (g) has been paid
  [without providing compensation for any property that the utility
  commission determines is rendered useless or valueless] to the
  decertified retail public utility [as a result of the
  decertification].
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter G, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 13.2541 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.2541.  STREAMLINED EXPEDITED RELEASE INITIATED BY
  LANDOWNER. (a)  Sections 13.254(a-7), (c), (d), and (h) apply to a
  proceeding under this section.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 13.254(a-5) and (a-6), Water Code, are
  transferred to Section 13.2541, Water Code, as added by this Act,
  redesignated as Sections 13.2541(b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), Water
  Code, and amended to read as follows:
         (b) [(a-5)]  As an alternative to decertification or [under
  Subsection (a) and] expedited release under Section 13.254
  [Subsection (a-1)], the owner of a tract of land that is at least 25
  acres and that is not receiving water or sewer service may petition
  for expedited release of the area from a certificate of public
  convenience and necessity in the manner provided by this section
  and is entitled to that release if the landowner's property is
  located in a county with a population of at least one million, a
  county adjacent to a county with a population of at least one
  million, or a county with a population of more than 200,000 and less
  than 220,000 that does not contain a public or private university
  that had a total enrollment in the most recent fall semester of
  40,000 or more, and not in a county that has a population of more
  than 45,500 and less than 47,500.
         (c) [(a-6)]  The utility commission shall grant the [a]
  petition [received under Subsection (a-5)] not later than the 60th
  day after the date the landowner files the petition.
         (d)  The utility commission may not deny the [a] petition
  [received under Subsection (a-5)] based on the fact that the [a]
  certificate holder is a borrower under a federal loan program.
         (e)  The certificate holder may not initiate an application
  to borrow money under a federal loan program after the date the
  petition is filed until the utility commission issues a decision on
  the petition.
         (f)  The utility commission may require an award of
  compensation by the petitioner to the certificate holder in the
  manner provided by this section [a decertified retail public
  utility that is the subject of a petition filed under Subsection
  (a-5) as otherwise provided by this section].
         SECTION 5.  Section 13.2541, Water Code, as added by this
  Act, is amended by adding Subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) to read
  as follows:
         (g)  The monetary amount of compensation, if any, shall be
  determined by a qualified individual or firm serving as independent
  appraiser agreed upon by the certificate holder and the petitioner.  
  The determination of compensation by the independent appraiser
  shall be binding on the utility commission.  The costs of the
  independent appraiser shall be borne by the petitioner.
         (h)  Section 13.254(g) applies to a determination of the
  monetary amount of compensation under this section.
         (i)  If the petitioner and the certificate holder cannot
  agree on an independent appraiser within 10 calendar days after the
  date on which the utility commission approves the petition, the
  petitioner and the certificate holder shall each engage its own
  appraiser at its own expense, and each appraisal shall be submitted
  to the utility commission within 70 calendar days after the date on
  which the utility commission approves the petition.  After
  receiving the appraisals, the utility commission shall appoint a
  third appraiser who shall make a determination of the compensation
  within 100 days after the date on which the utility commission
  approves the petition. The determination may not be less than the
  lower appraisal or more than the higher appraisal. The petitioner
  and the certificate holder shall each pay half the cost of the third
  appraisal.
         (j)  The utility commission shall ensure that:
               (1)  the monetary amount of compensation is determined
  not later than the 60th day after the date the utility commission
  receives the final appraisal; and
               (2)  the landowner pays the compensation to the
  certificate holder not later than the 90th calendar day after the
  date the monetary amount of compensation is determined.
         SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity that commences on or after the effective date of this Act.  
  A proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity that commenced before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding is
  commenced, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2272 passed the Senate on
  May 1, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the
  Senate concurred in House amendment on May 25, 2019, by the
  following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2272 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 143,
  Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor