88R26763 JXC-D
 
  By: Troxclair, Dean, Goldman, Hefner H.B. No. 4207
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4207:
 
  By:  Spiller C.S.H.B. No. 4207
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to municipally owned utility vegetation management.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 552.915 to read as follows:
         Sec. 552.915.  PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF MUNICIPAL UTILITY
  REVENUE. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Public Utility Commission
  of Texas.
               (2)  "Municipal utility" means an electric utility
  system owned, operated, or controlled by a municipality.
         (b)  If the commission determines under Section 38.101,
  Utilities Code, that a municipal utility's vegetation management
  activities are insufficient to ensure reliable service, except as
  provided by Subsection (c) and notwithstanding any other law, the
  municipality may not in the fiscal year of the determination
  transfer revenue to the general fund of the municipality from the
  municipal utility that the municipal utility needs to conduct
  sufficient vegetation management activities to ensure reliable
  service.
         (c)  The commission shall provide the municipality with a
  reasonable grace period after the commission provides a notice to
  the municipal utility under Section 38.101(c), Utilities Code, in
  which the municipality may continue to transfer revenue as
  described by Subsection (b) while the utility alters the utility's
  vegetation management activities to ensure reliable service.
         SECTION 2.  Section 38.101, Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 38.101.  REPORT ON INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND
  MAINTENANCE.  (a)  Not later than May 1 of each year, each electric
  utility and municipally owned utility shall submit to the
  commission a report describing the utility's activities related to:
               (1)  identifying areas that are susceptible to damage
  during severe weather and hardening transmission and distribution
  facilities in those areas;
               (2)  vegetation management; and
               (3)  inspecting distribution poles.
         (b)  Each electric utility and municipally owned utility
  shall include in a report required under Subsection (a) a summary of
  the utility's activities related to preparing for emergency
  operations.
         (c)  The commission shall evaluate each report submitted by a
  municipally owned utility under this section and notify the utility
  if the commission determines that the utility's vegetation
  management activities are insufficient to ensure reliable service.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.