HBA-ALS H.B. 3234 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3234
By: Najera
Land & Resource Management
3/25/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law allows particular entities to serve or connect land with water,
wastewater, electricity, gas, or other utility services in unplatted
colonias if the person requesting service to the land meets certain
criteria and provides the city or county documentation that there was
construction of a residence, as evidenced by a completed foundation, on the
land on or before May 1, 1997.  There is a concern that this requirement
may place an undue burden on the residents of these colonias.  H.B. 3234
removes the requirement that a person requesting service must provide
documentation that a foundation was completed on or before May 1, 1997. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 212.012, Local Government Code, to delete
language requiring a municipal authority responsible for approving plats to
issue a certificate stating that the construction of a residence on a piece
of land, as evidenced by a completed foundation, was begun on or before May
1, 1997, in order for an entity described under Subsection (b) (Connection
of Utilities), to serve or connect the land with water, sewer, electricity,
gas, or other utility service regardless of whether the entity holds an
applicable certificate under Section 212.0115 (Certification Regarding
Compliance With Plat Requirements). Makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 232.029, Local Government Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.