bill letting city water utilities help customers pay bills

The text as introduced · 226 words

90R3761 CXP-D

By: González of El Paso
H.B. No. 129

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to customer bill payment assistance programs offered by

municipally owned utilities that provide retail water or sewer

utility service.

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 552.9145 to read as follows:

Sec. 552.9145. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR

MUNICIPALLY OWNED WATER OR SEWER UTILITIES. (a) This section

applies only to a municipally owned utility that provides retail

water or sewer utility service.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 1502.057(b), Government Code, a

municipally owned utility may provide a bill payment assistance

program for retail water or sewer utility service customers:

(1) who are members of a household with a total annual

income that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty

guidelines;

(2) who are persons with a disability, as defined by 42

U.S.C. Section 12102;

(3) who are veterans of the United States armed

forces;

(4) who are 60 years of age or older; or

(5) whose service was disconnected for nonpayment by

any utility of the municipality three or more times during a

calendar year or who otherwise have a history of service

disconnection for nonpayment, as determined by the municipality.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.