88R2783 SHH-D
 
  By: VanDeaver H.B. No. 427
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to information required to be provided to the public about
  planned excavations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 251.151, Utilities Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Sections 251.155 and 251.156, a
  person who intends to excavate shall, [notify a notification
  center] not earlier than the 14th day before the date the excavation
  is to begin or later than the 48th hour before the time the
  excavation is to begin, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
  holidays:
               (1)  notify a notification center; and
               (2)  place at least one temporary sign at or near the
  excavation site that displays the information required to be
  included in the notice under Section 251.152.
         (d)  An excavator may place a sign described by Subsection
  (a) only:
               (1)  on property the owner of which has consented to the
  placement;
               (2)  on a public highway in a location that does not
  obstruct traffic; or
               (3)  on a street lamp or utility sign, pole, or fixture.
         (e)  An excavator may not remove a sign described by
  Subsection (a) until the excavation is complete.
         SECTION 2.  Section 251.152, Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 251.152.  INFORMATION INCLUDED IN NOTICE. The
  excavator shall include in the notice required under Section
  251.151:
               (1)  the name of the person serving the notice;
               (2)  the location of the proposed area of excavation,
  including:
                     (A)  the street address, if available, and the
  location of the excavation at the street address; or
                     (B)  if there is no street address, an accurate
  description of the excavation area using any available designations
  such as the closest street, road, or intersection;
               (3)  the name, address, and telephone number of the
  excavator or the excavator's company;
               (4)  the excavator's field telephone number, if one is
  available;
               (5)  a telephone facsimile number, e-mail address, or
  another electronic number or address approved by the board to which
  an operator may send the notification required by Section
  251.157(d);
               (6)  a telephone number or e-mail address a person can
  use to submit questions or complaints concerning the excavation;
               (7)  the starting date and time and the anticipated
  completion date of excavation; and
               (8) [(7)]  a statement as to whether explosives will be
  used.
         SECTION 3.  Section 251.153, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
         (d)  Not later than 48 hours after the time a notification
  center receives a notice of intent to excavate from an excavator or
  from a different notification center, excluding Saturdays,
  Sundays, and legal holidays, the notification center shall provide
  to each owner of property in the vicinity of the proposed excavation
  operation the information provided to the notification center by
  the excavator under Section 251.152.
         (e)  This subsection applies only to an excavation site in a
  county with a population of less than 100,000.  Not later than 48
  hours after the time a notification center receives a notice of
  intent to excavate from an excavator or from a different
  notification center, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
  holidays, the notification center shall provide to the county judge
  of the county in which the excavation site is located the
  information provided to the notification center by the excavator
  under Section 251.152.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.