BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2268

By: Paul

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Access to clean running water is essential to many aspects of everyday life. Despite this fact, state law currently does not require any advance notice before water and sewer service is disconnected for utility customers, thus depriving customers of an opportunity to make different arrangements or pay overdue charges. H.B. 2268 seeks to address this issue and ensure that Texans are aware that they are facing a disconnection in service by requiring a water and sewer utility to provide notice before disconnection.

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. 2268 amends the Water Code to require a water and sewer utility to mail and hand deliver in a separate written statement a disconnection notice to a customer at least 14 days before the date the utility disconnects the customer's service, unless a shorter time is authorized by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. That requirement applies only to a disconnection of water or sewer service that is scheduled on or after September 15, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.