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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to bill payment assistance programs for utility customers |
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offered by certain municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 552.9145 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.9145. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR UTILITY |
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SYSTEM CUSTOMERS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. (a) In this section, |
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"utility system" has the meaning assigned by Section 552.914. |
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(b) This section applies only to a municipality described by |
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Section 1502.070(a)(2)(B), Government Code. |
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(c) The board of trustees vested with the management and |
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control of a municipality's utility system has exclusive authority |
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to establish a bill payment assistance program for utility system |
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customers: |
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(1) who the utility determines are low-income |
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customers whose service was disconnected for nonpayment by the |
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utility system three or more times during a calendar year; or |
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(2) who are 75 years of age or older and have received |
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a notice of disconnection from service from the utility system for |
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nonpayment of bills. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |