BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1337

By: Krause

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns regarding the potential danger of an electrical utility terminating electrical services to a customer due to unpaid utility bills when the customer is an individual who has been designated as a critical care residential customer and who relies on a medical device powered by electricity for life-sustaining purposes. H.B. 1337 seeks to prevent this type of situation while providing a mechanism through which utilities may be compensated by making these customers' unpaid electricity bills an obligation of their 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. 1337 amends the Estates Code to specify that, for purposes of presentment and payment of claims against an estate, the expenses of the decedent's last illness which are part of 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, 2021.